The  Historical  Tragedy  of 
Mary  Qtieen  of  Scots 


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HISTORICAL  TRAGEDY 


Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


BY  THE  AUTHOR  OF 


HAMLET,   RICHARD   III,,  OTHELLO, 
AS   YOU    LIKE   IT,   ETC. 


DECIPHERED 

FROM  THE  WORKS  OF 

SIR  FRANCIS  BACON 

BY 

ORVILLE  W.  OWEN,  M.  D. 


DETROIT,  MICH.  : 

HOWARD  PUBLISHING  COMPANY. 

LONDON : 
GAY  &  BIRD,  5,  CHANDOS  STREET. 


Copyright,  1894. 

BY  oRvii.i,E  w.  owe;n. 

All  rights  reserved. 


^  LIBRARY 

^liH  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

SANTA  BARBARA 


PUBLISHER'S   NOTE. 


This  Tragedy  is  produced  by  the  appHcation  of  the  Cipher 
rule  or  system,'  discovered  by  Doctor  Or^nlle  W.  Owen,  of 
Detroit,  in  the  Shakespeare  plays  and  other  works  of  Francis 
Bacon. '  No  word  of  it  is  taken  from  any  other  source,  and  it 
is  put  together  according  to  the  methods  described  in  the  pre- 
vious books  of  the  Cipher  series  issued  by  this  Company. 

Those  unfamiliar  with  the  Cipher  discoveries  may  be  assisted 
in  their  appreciation  of  the  Tragedy,  by  knowing  that  in  the 
former  publications  it  is  revealed  that  Bacon  was  the  son  of 
Elizabeth,  and  that  his  father  was  Robert  Dudley,  Earl  of 
Leicester. 

This  Tragedy  forms  part  of  the  fourth  book  of  Bacon's 
Cipher  vStorv!  A  fifth  and  a  sixth  book  are  in  preparation. 
Persons  who'  mav  doubt  that  this  Tragedy  is  the  work  of 
Francis  Bacon,  or  that  it  and  the  previously  published  Cipher 
writings  are  derived  through  the  Cipher  system  in  the  manner 
set  for'th  b>-  Doctor  Owen,  are  invited  to  consider  the  question: 
If  Bacon  did  not  7vrite  these   Cipher  works,  who  did? 

HOWARD  PUBLISHING  COMPANY. 
Detroit,  Mich.,  December,  1894. 


Ct]e  Cragcby  of  JTtary  Succn  of  Scots. 

Actus  Primus.     Scena  Prima. 
« 

(Audience  Room  of  the  Palace). 

Enter  Queen  Elizabeth,  reading  a  letter,  and 

Master  Francis  Bacon. 

Queen  Elizabeth.  Master  Bacon,  if  it  is  true  that  the 
Scottish  Queea  hath  said  and  written  thus,  what  particular 
and  convenient  laws  have  we  to  tame  this  wanton? 

Francis  Bacon.  Madam,  if  it  be  believed  that  her 
grace  doth  allege  this,  it  is  merely  sophistry.  Still,  for 
your  honor  and  your  safety,  I  would  surely  prove  upon 
her  person,  these  heinous  and  many  manifest  treasons. 
I  grieve  to  hear  of  her  seeming  murderous  deeds, 
«  But  if  the  lamb  should  let  the  Hon  way, 
By  my  advice,  the  lamb  should  lose  her  life." 

Q.  E.  She  shall  give  me  but  way. 

F.  B.  But  yet  I  would  be  fully  satisfied  she  spake  thus. 

Q.  E.  My  lady  for  this  tale,  is  bespoke  by  the 
deathsman.^ 

F.  B.  I'm  sorry  for't ;  but  as  a  counsellor,  I  may  not 
in  any  way  sustain  her.  You  are  our  only  rightful  sover- 
eign, and  according  to  the  laws  of  England,  the  minute 
whosoever  speaks  in  tropical  and  abused  sense,  about  the 
succession,  is  in  the  statute  law  upon  evidence,  please 
your  Highness,  a  traitor:  and  if  any  subject,  or  person  in 
England,  send  in  secret,  letters  unto  an  opposed  King; 
or  instruct,  consent,  or  seek  to  make  away,  remove, 
place  in  peril,  or  murder  their  true  sovereign  Queen;  or 
touch  to  her  prejudice  her  good  person;  or  pry  into  the 

1.  "Said  the  queen,  (I  remember  it  for  the  efficacy  of  the 
phrase,) 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


princes'  title,  they  are  guilty  of  treason,  and  are  rebels 
recreants  and  traitors.  And  if  they  advise,  or  suflei»  to  be 
made,  approaches  upon  England,  either  by  invasion  or 
interruption  of  traffic ;  or  enter  into  league  with  foreign 
princes  without  the  sovereign's  will  or  state's  allowance, 
they  shall  be  apprehended  as  traitors  and  rebels,  and  an- 
swer to  the  attainder.  And  in  this  dangerous  suspect, 
dread  sovereign,  this  gilded  serpent  in  mine  opinion 
lies.  Nay,  more;  if  that  her  Majesty  while  within  this 
kingdom,  hath  stirred  up  or  made  suit  unto  the  King  of 
France,  and  doth  challenge  your  Majesty's  riglit  to  be, 
by  the  grace  of  God,  Queen  of  England,  France  and 
Ireland,  she  is  a  silly  woman,  and  doth  show  a  weak 
mind:  for  she,  by  my  troth,  is  placed  in  the  double  and 
odious  position  of  a  neutral,  charged  with  treachery  and 
rebellion  ;  and  it  is  the  law  that  such  a  person  is  a  traitor, 
and  may  suffer  death  by  hanging  or  the  sword,  accord- 
ing to  the  will  of  the  court. 

Q.  E.  Yea,  is  it  so  ?  I  will  myself  speak   with  this 
woman. 

F.  B.  Save  your  grace!    What  means  your  grace? 
To  have  conference  with  your  cousin  alone? 

Q.  E.  Aye,  I  do  so.     I  will,  by  visiting  this  sweet 
Queen — this  subtle-witted,  life-rendering  politician — find 
out  her  attributes.      'Shrew  my  heart !  ere  I  taste  bread, 
I  will  unto  this  planetary  plague. 
Is  she  as  tall  as  me? 

F.  B.  She  is  not,  madam. 

Q.  E.  Didst  hear  her  speak? 
Is  she  shrill  tongued  or  low  ? 

F.  B.  Madam,  I  heard  her  speak  ;  she  is  low-voiced. 

Q.  E.  That's  not  so  good. 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


What  majesty  is  in  her  gait,  remember 
If  e'er  thou  look'dst  on  majesty  ? 

F.  B.  Dread  madam,  she  hath  an  inferior  form  to  you. 

q.  E.  Let  not  thy  lips  skip  one  word. 

F.  B.  Then  I  say,  look  not  upon  her  but  when  you 
are  well  pleased. 

Q.  E.  Hold  your  peace  !  if  this  prove  true,  she  shall 
pay  for't.  By  mine  honor,  I  would  see  her  though  I  knew 
I  would  be  damned  for't.     Go  have  my  Lord  Leicester 

here  :  I  would  speak  with  him.  ^  r  •     .    \ 

^  {Enter  Leicester) 

My  lord,  all  hail !  we  would  visit  the  virtuous  lady.  Queen 
of  Scotland,  at  the  poor  castle  where  she  lies,  that  she  may 
boast  she  hath  beheld  the  English  Queen. 

Lord  Leicester.  Good  madam,  have  you  eaten  on  the 
insane  root  that  takes  the  reason  prisoner  ? 

Q.  E.  What,  my  lord  !  Must  we  fear  this  red-tailed 
bumble-bee,  and  fall  down  and  knee  the  way  unto  her 
mercy,  and  in  humbleness  speak  her  praise  and  glory? 
Excellent !  She,  of  alfalive,  is  most  worthy  to  be  praised, 
being  derived  by  descent  from  Henry  Seventh,  and  that 
doth  call  us  the  issue  of  our  mother's  womb,  but  none  of 
our  father's  kind,  and  not  of  his  begetting.  Didstthou  note 
the  last  shameful  speech  of  this  modest  lady?  That  we 
are  a  bastard,  and  raised  out  ot  the  dust  to  be  sovereign 
of  England  ?  These  twenty  years  have  we  suffered  by  her 
arts— we  fear  her  not.  But,  my  lord,  speak  the  truth 
truly.    Hast  thou  never  found  the  way  to  the  forefended 

place? 

L.  L.  No,  by  mine   honor,  madam,  I  never   could 

endure  her? 


2.  "Said  she,  when  I  bad  brought  hitn  to  her,— 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Q.  E.  Then  be  not  familiar  with  her. 

L.  L.  Madam,  I  looked  on  her,  but  I  noted  her  not. 

Q.  E.  Thou  tallest  us  to  keep  at  home.  Suppose,  sir, 
we  should  have  thee  wedded  unto  this  mortal  Venus,  this 
heart-blood  of  beauty,  this  love's  invisible  soul  ? 

L.  L.  "Who,  thy  cousin  Helen  ? 

Q.  E.  No  sir,  Cressida;  thou  art  not  Paris,  thou  art 
Troilus.     How  likest  thou  our  choice  ? 

L.  L.  Sweet  Queen,  you  are  pleasant  with  me,  but, 
dear  Queen,  be  not  my  lord  Pandarus. 

Q.  E.  Sweet  Queen,  sweet  Queen  !  that's  a  sweet 
Queen,  i'  faith,  and  to  make  a  sweet  lady  sad,  is  a  sour 
offence,  but  that  shall  not  serve  thy  turn,  that  shall  it 
not,  la.  We  care  not  for  such  words.  No,  no,  my  lord, 
make  no  excuse,  my  dear  honey-sweet  lord,  thou  shalt 
not  bob  us  out  of  our  melody  with  broken  music.  We'll 
hear  thee  sing — wilt  thou  have  us  go  without  thee,  my  lord? 

L.  L.  No,  no  !   No  such  matter,  you  are  wide. 

Q.  E.  Yet  thou  makest  excuse,  my  lord;  is  the  fair 
forlorn  Queen  of  Scotland  sole  possessor  of  thy  love?  Is 
this  the  cause  that  thou  fail  us?  Thou  art  undutiful  and 
perjured;  by  Holy  Paul,  we  tell  ye,  we  will  (be  assured) 
confer  with  her,  in  spite  of  thee  or  any  of  thy  faction. 
A  plague  upon  ye  all  that  hath  not  honesty  or  grace ! 

L.  L.  Your  grace  speaks  against  your  meetest 
vantage ;  you  mistake  the  matter ;  the  tender  love  I  bear 
your  grace,  makes  me  most  forward  in  this  princely  pres- 
ence. I  fear  for  you ;  should  the  discontented  men  who 
owe  allegiance  to  the  Scottish  Queen,  take  note  of  your 
bold  trust,  they  will  by  interception,  strike  at  your  life.  ^ 


3.  "  The  queen  started,  a  little  and  said  : — 


The   Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Q.  E.  By  my  faith,  my  lord,  I  thank  you  ;  yet  I  will 
go  maugre  Scotland's  might.  ^  Hie  away  as  swift  as 
swallow  flies,  and  furnish  me  conveyance.  Come !  away ! 
away!  I  will  go  even  now!   in  God's  name  away!  and 

lose  no  time. 

L.  L.  Fair  Queen,  your  fair  cousin  is   not  here  in 

London, 

Q.  K  How  !  Not  in  London  ?     I  see  you  make  sport 

of  me. 

L.  L.  May  it  please  your  Highness  to  hear  me  speak  ? 

Q.  E.  Yes,  sir,  yes. 

L.  L.  Your  Majesty  would  not  suffer   your  cousin 

to  come, 

q.  E.  Well  said,  my  lord ;  I  do  remember ;  hut  can 
you  not  bring  her  hither,  where  I  may  have  chance  to 

speak  to  her  ? 

L.  L.  Aye,  I  promise  you ;  I'll  send  for  her  to  my 
house;  and  then  if  your  Highness  vouchsafe  to  sup  with 
me,  you  may  without  public  proceedings,  (if  your  royal 
grace  wish)  come  to  speech  of  her. 

Q.  E.  Pray  ye,  my  lord,  go.  * 

L.  L.  Here,  Talbot;  (^^^^^  Talbot) 

Go  you  to  Queen  Mary  and  most  affectionately  say,  I,  to 
make  atonement  between  us,  humbly  beseech  her  grace 
to  come  in  secret  to  my  house.  And  be  sure  you  be  not 
robbed  of  this  lovely  lady ;  have  soldiers  to  attend  you  on 
horseback;  ride  post,  and  fetch  her  to  my  house ;  hem 
her  train  in  that  not  a  man  or  woman  escape.  Away ! 
.    Talhot  My  lord,  I'll  go  tonight. 

L  L    Good  !  I  have  trust  and  faith  in  you. 
Fare20uwell!______ {ExUTdhot^ 

4.  "  My  father,  losing  no  time,  calleth  one  of  his  valiant 
gentlemen  and  saith  to  him  : — 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Scena  Secunda.  ^ 


{Banquet  Room  in  Leicester's  House.) 

Mary  Queen  of  Scots  and  the  Earl  of  Leicester  at  table. 

Enter  Queen  Elizabeth  in  disguise ;  hides  behind  statue. 

Queen  Mary.  Better  were  it  this  woman  Elizabeth 
(lied ; 
And,  noble  lord,  I  prithee  join  with  me 
In  my  attempts,  and  I,  in  marriage  will 
Confer  myself  on  you,  if  you,  my  lord, 
Will  accept  rae.     I  am  young,  and  apt,  and  fair 
As  is  the  youngest  maid  ;  and  of  descent 
As  good  as  this  old  fox  :  be  pitiful 

Dear  lord,  and  grant  my  suit.     The  child  that  shall  descend 
From  the  true  fountain  of  our  marriage, 
Will  then  be  heir  unto  the  lines  of  France, 
Scotland  and  England. 

L.  L.  But  your   own  son  doth  wear  the  crown    of 
Scotland. 

Q.  M.  What  though  he  do?     By  act  of  Parliament, 

5.  "  The  servant  bringeth  the  poor  soul  (with  a  small 
number  of  friends)  to  my  father's  house,  where  my  father  doth 
greet  her  and  bid  her  into  supper ;  then  he  sends  to  the  Queen 
and  she  hies  her  in  all  post  there,  and,  like  a  cunning  and  pro- 
fessed tyrant,  she  (after  her  custom)  comes  soft  into  my  father's 
house,  and  maskt  by  one  of  the  statues  placed  in  the  room, 
hears  my  lord  dissemble  with  her  grace.  This  banquet  did 
prove  as  ominous  to>  Mary,  as  Progene's  to  the  adiilterous 
Thracian  king,  that  fed  upon  the  substance  of  his  child ;  for  his 
foxship  led  her  into  blindness  with  base  thoughts.  The  savour 
of  the  celestial  food  of  love,  on  which  my  lord  fed  her,  caused 
her  to  beg  relief  of  him.     Said  she : — ■ 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


We  will  blot  him  out.     Sir,  when  the  Scottish  lords, 

Did  break  their  oaths  to  me,  and  drave  me  hence, 

(For  by  their  consent,  and  for  his  sake, 

I  was  made  to  yield  the  crown  and  fly,) 

My  love  did  turn  to  hate  :  therefore,  my  lord, 

'Tis  but  reason  that  I  yield  you  my  hand : 

You  shall  have  all. 

L.  L.  But  if  your  title  to  the  crown  be  weak. 

As  may  appear  by  your  son's  good  success, 

Then  were  I  loath  to  link  myself  with  you. 

James  now  doth  live  in  Scotland  at  his  ease, 

And  the  houses  of  York  and  Lancaster 

Uphold  the  arm  of  Queen  Elizabeth ; 

On  neither  law  nor  right  rests  your  estate; 

You  are  an  exile,  and  so  must  you  stay 

Until  your  son  is  brought  within  your  power. 

By  this  alliance  what  shall  I  win? 

Q.  M.  Aye,    good    my    lord,    they    have    through 
treachery, 

Bestow'd  the  kingdom  on  my  abortive  son. 
But  I  tell  thee,  I  will  requite  it  on  them  ; 
If  that  thy  friends  will  pawn  their  swords  for  me 
And  my  enfranchisement,  demand  thy  fill. 
If  thou  wilt  marry  me,  as  man  and  wife 
Being  two,  are  one  in  love,  so  we'll  combine 
In  one  the  French,  English  and  Scottish  realms: 
I  swear  to  thee,  that  thou  shalt  be  the  king 
Of  these  kingdoms ;  then  unsheathe  thy  sword, 
And  give  just  sentence  on  this  bastard  Queen, 
Who  in  the  regal  throne  of  England  sits, 
Which,  in  God's  name,  my  lord,  we  will  ascend. 
Choose  thou  for  thy  bride,  a  loving  handmaid 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


For  thy  desires,  and  not  the  old  bastard  daughter 
Of  that  harlot-strumpet,  Anne  Bullen. 
What  sayeih  my  sweet  lord  ?  ^ 

(Elizabeth,  with  a  cry  comes  forth.) 
Q.  E.  Doth  Scotland  make  your  Majesty  our  judge? 
Q.  M.  Alas !  I  am  undone ;  it  is  the  Queen ! 
Q.  E.  Nay,  answer  us  what  thou  hast  said  of  us.  ^ 
Why!  how  new,  Queen?  What  is  the  matter  now? 
B^  th'  rood,  thou  didst  speak  vilely  of  us,  even  now, 
But  we'll  proclaim  thee,  out  of  hand,  our  sovereign, 
And  thou  shalt  reign ;  and  thy  son  and  heirs  may  claim 

our  realm. 
Thou  hast  disinherited  thine  only  son 
But  thou  shalt  yet  have  children  by  my  lord; 
To  him  we'll  yield  obedience,  as  to  a  king : 
Why  should  we  not?  Pray,  pardon  us  sweet  Earl; 
Thy  grace,  like  good  Pierce  of  Exton, 
(Who  with  the  king's  blood  stain'd  the  king's  own  land,) 

Can  rid  this  fair  and  spotless  innocence 

Of  her  foul  foe. 

Thou  scarlet  sin;  when  thou  didst  speak  so  rash. 

Thou  knewest  not  that  we  were  within  hearing ; 

Thou  hast  undone  thy  life! 

Thy  dearest  heart-blood  we  will  have,  foul  wretch ! 

By  heaven !  when  thou  in  hateful  practice  spak'st  against 

Our  mother's  honor,  know'st  thou  not  thou  gav'st 

The  warrant  to  the  executioner  for  thy  head? 

Thou,  that  rob'st  me  of  my  lord — 

6.  "At  this,  Elizabeth  did  cry  out,  and  straightway  came 
forth  and  said : — 

7.  "  When   death's  approach  is  seen,  'twill   not  look  so 
terrible  as  did  Elizabeth. 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  9 

Q.  M.  Madam,  'tis  you  that  rob  rae  of  my  lord. 

Q.  E.  Be  still !  Speak  not !  On  capital  treasou, 
We  will  arrest  thee  and,  in  thy  arrest, 
Foul  traitor,  thou  wilt  come  to  know  our  mind. 

Q.  M.  May't  please  your  highness  to  resolve  me  now  ? 

Q.  E.  Aye  then,  madam,  since  thou  enforceth  us, 
We  will  satisfy  thee  :  thy  neck  must  stoop. 
We'll  have  thy  head  and  set  it  on  our  gates, 
So  thou  may'st  overlook  the  town.  ^ 

Q.  M.  How  !  what  ?  no,  no,  noble  madam,  you  speak 
In  sport  I  know ;  Your  grace's  words,  forsooth, 
Are  stern,  but  yet  no  outward  actions  show 
That  you  intend  to  wed  me  unto  Death. 
This  is  the  English,  not  the  Turkish  court: 
You'll  let  me  live — I  am  too  young  to  die  ! 
You  speak  in  merriment  to  frighten  me ! 
Do  you  not  speak  in  jest?  \ 

Q.  E.  Thou  wretch !     With  idlfe  tongue  thou  ques- 
tionest. 
Speak  we  no  English  but  gibberish,  or  rather  such, 
As  in  old  time,  Evander's  mother  spake  ? 
Had  we  not  seen  thee  and  heard  thee  speak, 
With  show  of  virtue  daub'd  with  vice, 
These  very  words  that  did  infer  our  bastardy,    ' 
We  could,  i'th'  Lethe  of  our  angry  soul, 
Drown  the  remembrance  of  those  wrongs,  which  thou 
Hast  done  to  us;  but  that  our  ears  should  hear  thee 
Telling  my  lord  the  reasons  why  our  father. 
Who  now  hath  done  his  shift,  did  slay  our  mother — 
By  God's  Mother,  thou  shalt  post  to  heaven  ! 
Think'st  thou  we  jest  now  ? 

8.  "  The  poor  innocent  thus  began  : — 


12  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


And  leave,  nor  name,  nor  issue,  on  the  earth  of  thee: 

We  will  take  order  that  thy  son  shall  fall ; 

The  plough  shall  furrow  where  thy  palace  stood, 

And  fury  shall  enjoy  so  high  a  power, 

That  mercy  shall  be  banish'd  from  our  sword ; 

For  we  will  put  each  mother's  son  to  death, 

And  lay  thy  cities  level  with  the  ground : 

So  will  we  quench  the  sparkle  that  is  left 

Of  thy  false  son  !     Aye,  as  the  Lord  doth  live. 

We  will  chastise  him  ;  and  our  English  banner 

Shall  flout  the  sky,  and  fan  thy  people  cold. 

'Fore  God,  thy  tongue  hath  cost  thee  now  thy  life.  ^ 

(Elizabeth  would  have  left  the  room.) 
L.  L.  Stay,  Princess,  wage  not  war!    A  privy  grudge 
'Twixt  such  as  you,  most  high  in  majesty, 
Afflicts  both  nocent  and  the  innocent. 
How  many  swords,  dread  Princess,  see  I  drawn — 
The  friend  against  his  friend,  a  deadly  feud, — 
A  desperate  division  in  these  lands  I  see ! 
To  God  alone  belongs  revenge  ; 
O,  keep  those  many,  many  bodies  safe 
That  live  and  feed  upon  your  majesty; 
The  single  and  peculiar  life  is  bound 
With  all  the  strength  and  armour  of  the  mind, 
To  keep  itself  from  'noyance;  but  much  more 

That  Spirit,  upon  whose  spirit  depends  and  rests  ^ 

The  lives  of  many.     The  cease  of  Majesty 
Dies  not  alone  but  like  a  gulf  doth  draw 
What's  near  it,  with  it.    Jt  is  a  massy  wheel 
Fixt  on  the  summit  of  the  highest  mount, 

9,  "And  the  incensed  Queen  would  have  left,  but  my  father 
said :  — 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  13 

4 

To  whose  huge  epokes,  ten  thousand  lesser  things 
Are  mortiz'd  and  adjoin'd  which,  when  it  falls, 
Each  small  annexment,  petty  consequence, 
Attends  the  hoist'rous  ruin.     Never  alone 
Did  the  king  sigh,  but  with  a  general  groan. 

Q.  E.    Why!    how   now!    dare  you  speak  for  this 
'curs'd  woman 
"Who  dares  to  claim  the  English  crown  ? 

■L.  L.  Dread  monarch,  this  is  but  a  lunacy, 
Which  grief  hath  brought  this  woman  to. 

Q.  E.  False  peer, 
Thy  father  was  a  traitor  to  the  crown, 
And  thou  art  traitor  to  the  crown  ! 
In  foll'wing  this  usurping  Queen, 
Belike  thou,  too,  aspire  to  the  crown, 
But  neither  thou,  nor  he  that  loves  thee  best, 
The  proudest  he  that  boldest  up  this  doll. 
Dare  stir  a  wing,  if  Elizabeth  shake  her  bells. 
I'll  have  more  lives  for  this 
Than  drops  of  blood  were  in  my  mother's  veins! 
How  she  held  up  the  bill,  the  neb  to  thee. 
And  arm'd  her  with  the  boldness  of  a  wife 
To  her  allowing  husband!     Already 
Inch  thick,  knee  deep,  o'er  head  and  ears  in  love! 
Blunt  witted  lord,  ignoble  in  demeanor, 
Every  word  thou  speak'st  in  her  behalf. 
Is  slander  to  oifr  royal  dignity. 
Come  woman,  kneel  and  do  us  homage, 
Or,  by  heaven  we  swear 
We'll  force  thee  do  it,  maugre  all  thy  pride  I 
Oh  we  have  physic  for  a  fool ! 
Pills  for  a  traitor  that  doth  wrong  his  sovereign  ! 


14  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Most  holy  and  reli.2:ious  fear,  will  we 

Ourselves,  provide  for  thy  interious  hatred. 

What  hand  made  thee,  thou  proud,  ambitious  mau? 

Who  gave  thee,  thou  detestable  villain, 

Thy  coronet  ?     Nay,  think  thou  ;  thy  renown, 

Thy  orient  pearls,  thy  dear  bought  movables, 

Thy  jewels  and  thy  treasure  comes  from  us. 

And  yet  thou  makest  great  account,  my  lord, 

O'  th'  curs'd  usurper  who  doth  defame  us. 

And  hath  conspir'd  with  the  French  king  to  kiK  us. 

This  man  hath  eat  bread  from  our  royal  hand — 

This  hand  hath  made  him  proud  with  clapping  him — 

Yet  notwithstanding,  he  would  commit 

All  unlawful  actions,  contemning  God  and  men, 

Friends  and  country,  and  all  for  this  lovely  leman. 

There  is  no  truth  or  justice  to  be  found  in  men  ! 

When  they  are  poor  and  needy,  they  seek  riches ; 

And  when  they  have  them,  they  covet  princely  royalty 

And  hold  their  manhoods  cheap. 

Sir,  when  thou  wast  ready  to  be  starv'd, 

A  silly  and  contemptible  sloven. 

Ragged  in  coat  and  in  thy  whole  apparel. 

Did  we  not  load  thee  with  our  grace  and  princely  care? 

Have  we  not  made  thee  Master  of  the  Horse, 

Besides  the  most  remark'd  man  i'  th'  kingdom? 

We  have  with  more  preferments  pursued  thco 

Than  can  be  well  remember'd.     Yet,  behold  ! 

Thou  dost  demand  this  very,  very,  fair 

Sweet  Queen  to  be  thy  pillow  !     Oh,  how  sweet 

A  plant  is  this  that  thou  hast  cropt !     Thine  eyes 

We  thought,  did  prophesy  a  royal  marriage  ! 

Aye,  my  lord,  all  thy  knavery  w^e  witness'd: 


The   Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  15 


If  with  this  thing  it  be  thou  art  in  love, 
Thou  shalt  have  her;  we'll  gratify  thy  worth; 
We  o-ive  her  frankly  unto  thee  forever, 
And  ye  shall  both  rake  hell  for  company  : 
Yet  we  have  heard  it  in  a  proverb  said  : — 
"  He  that  is  old  and  marries  with  a  lass, 
Lies  but  at  home  and  proves  himself  an  usse." 
See  her  wither'd  face,  deform'd,  diseased;  cankered  com- 
plexion ; 
She  hath  a  rotten  carcass,viperonsmind  and  epicurean  soul: 
We  pray  thee  take  her;  if  thou  complaiuest, 
By  our  crown,  we  swear, 
By  jarring  torture  will  we  cut  thee  off". 
Yea,  thou  shalt  die;  for  if  upon  the  earth 
Any  man  doth  deserve  to  lose  his  head, 
My  lord,  thou  art  that  man.  ^'^ 

L.  L.  God  save  your  majesty;  never  I  am  sure, 
Have  I  unto  your  majesty  giv'n  cause 
To  treat  me  thus:  nothing  o'  th'  sort  hath  happen'd  here. 
And  if  it  please  your  majesty  to  speak, 
I  do  beseech  you,  madam,  to  discover 
The  special  cause  why  you  let  slip 
Such  dreadful  pudder  o'er  our  heads. 
I  confess,  in  sober  sadness,  marriage  is  a  bondage, 
A  yoke,  a  thraldom  and  a  hindrance,  too, 
To  all  good  enterprises ;  (this  you  know) 
And  this  illustrious  princess  and  myself 
No  such  intent  could  have.      On  my  head  fall  the  blame 
And  not  on  hers,  if  I  was  half  the  wooer. " 

10.  "  My  father  said : — 

11.  "  With  which  words,  he  excited  such  excessive  jealousy 
and  alarm  in  my  mother  that  she  broke  forth  into  a  passionate 
speech : — 


16  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Q.  E.  Oh,  thou  liest!  I  will  prove  it  on  thy  heart. 
I  say  thou  art  euamour'd  of  this  lady, — 
This  silken-coated,  honey-tongued  jade. 
Oh,  I  want  friends;  I  am  alone,  alone  ! 
I  am  a  poor  servant;  what  shall  I  do?  ^^ 

(Elizabeth  laughs  and  weeps.) 

L.  L.  Oh,  I^beseech  you,  madam,  pardon  me! 
For  Heaven's  sake  pardon  !  See,  a  beggar  begs, 
That  never  begg'd  before;  love  and  not  fear 
Begets  my  penitence;  my  happiness 
Is  in  that  love,  and  it  doth  harrow  me 
With  pain  when  you,  our  kingdom's  pearl,  sit  weeping; 
But  I  am  crowned  with  all  joys  of  love, 
When  you,  0  goddess,  banish  tears  away. 
Come,  madam,  come  ;  take  me  out  of  the  grave  ; 
You  are  a  soul  in  bliss,  bat  I  in  desire  ain  bound; 
I  pray  you,  madam,  speak  to  your  poor  knight; 
I  do  beseech  your  grace  to  pardon  me. 

Q.  E.  Thou  perjur'd  man, 
Scotland's  beauty  doth  stale  thy  heart. 
So  go  with  thy  fair  love  and  share  her  jail.  '^ 

L.  L.  If  you  did  love  me,  as  I  do  you 
Thus  cruelly  you  would  not  let  me  die, 
Devoured  in  my  love;  within  this  place. 
If  you  pardon  me  not,  and  trust  me  not, 

12.  "  My  mother  did,  with  this,  laugh  and  then  wept  with 
^rief ;  such  stores  of  tears  she  forth  did  pour,  as  if  she  all  to 
water  would  have  gone;  when  my  father  saw  her  sad  stower 
and  howshe  did  weep  and  wail  and  make  exceeding  moan, 
he,  descending  •from  his  stage-like  greatness,  said  : — 

13.  "  This  made  him  quickly  reinforce  his  speech,  and  her 
beseech,  in  humble  manner,  thus : — 


The   Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  17 

I'll  die:  but  what  a  fool  am  I,  to  talk 
Of  pardon,  for  your  majesty,  I  know, 
"Will  let  me  pine  away  with  grief  and  care! 
What  have  I  ever  done  but  love  you,  Queen? 
And  yet,  I  am  content  the  world  shall  see 
How  well,  if  needs,  an  English  earl  can  die. 
Here  to  your  grace,  I  do  bequeath  my  lands, 
My  castles,  and  what  holds  of  me  in  chief. 
And  I  put  your  grace  in  full  possession. 
If  that  your  grace  will  not  poor  Robin  pardon, 
I  am  content,  for  then,  you  will  promise  me 
The  remnant  of  my  fortune  to  enjoy.  '* 

(Elizabeth  laughs  in  his  face.) 

Q.  E.  l^ay,  nay,  my  lord  !  this  shall  not  hedge  us  out. 
No,  thou  ill-nurtured,  sly  and  bloody  man  ! 
Thou  art  blunt  of  speech,  and  in  conclusion  hasty 
So  blame  us  not  if  we  do  trust  thee  not. 
No,  no,  sir,  we  heard  her  hail  thee  king. 
And  we  did  hidden  stand  and  watch  thy  pleasure. 
Thou  slave!  down  on  thy  knees  and  tremble  ! 
Thou  caitiif !     We  will  shake  thee  to  pieces.  ^^ 

L.  L.  Alack,  alack!  pity  me,  God! 
I  am  a  man  more  sinn'd  against  than  sinning. 
Let  the  great  gods  observe  my  soul,  and  if 
I  do  not  love  you  with  a  goodly,  cordial  love, 
Let  them  unkennel  on  my  naked  head 
The  thunderbolt,  that,  with  sulphur  charged. 
Through  the  wide  cheeks  a'  th'  air  doth  rive  the  oak. 
Great  sovereign,  you  believe  me  not; 

14.  "  In  high  despight,  the  Queen  laughed  in  his  face  and 
said : — 

15.  "  My  lord  at  this  cried  out : — 


18  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Against  me  you  liave  conceived  displeasure, 

Yet  I  love  you  with  a  precedent  passion, 

And  witness,  Heaven,  how  dear  you  are  to  me.  '^ 

(Elizabeth  smiles  and  speaks  him  fair.) 

Q.  E.  I  would  entreat  you,  Robin,  speak  three  wise 
words, 
For  I  promise  you,  none  have  you  spoken  here. 
I'll  freely  pardon  you  after  death ; 
Therefore,  speak  no  more. 
I'm  sorry  you  unto  this  traitor,  base, 
Have  given  ear,  but  as  you,  willingly, 
And  of  your  own  accord,  have  concluded  thus 
A  league  between  you,  I  sir,  will  requite  you. 
And  cut  your  vital  thread  in  twain.  *^ 

L.  L.  Madam,  my  sovereign, 
Long  and  happy  be  your  days! 
If  it  please  your  majesty,  give  consent 
To  straight  dispatch  me,  as  it  sorteth  not  with  me 
To  live  in  pain  of  your  perpetual  displeasure. 
My  heart  will  break!     How  I  may  be  censured 
That  nature  thus  gives  way  to  loyalty, 
Something  fears  me  to  think ;  but  I  prefer 
The  freedom  of  divine  liberty,  more 
Than  the  mortality  of  imprisonment. 
Therefore,  as  I  am  bound  to  die,  let  me 
Die  here,  where  my  judge  is  present; 
The  gods  of  heaven  forbid  that  I  should  e'er 
Desire,  or  wish  you  to  yield  your  crown  to  me. 

Q.  E.    And  wherefore,   then,  did   you    debate   tihs 
business?     Speak! 

16.  "  So  he  whined  and  roared  away,  until  the  witty  Queen 
smiled  and  spoke  him  fair: — 

17.  "  He  answered : — 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  19 

L.  L.  For  to  espy  this  lady's  own  intent, 
And  do  a  service  to  your  grace. 

Q.  K  Perhaps ! 
'Tis  bravely  spoke,  and  yet  I  like  it  not 
That  you  make  choice  of  friends,  that  hope  to  trip  me : 
My  lord  you  have  deserved  death,  but  I 
Will  pardon  you.     If  you  could  e'er  find  out 
A  country,  where  but  women  were  that  had 
Received  so  much  shame,  you  might  begin 
A  new  nation. 

L.  _L,  I  thank  your  majesty. 

Q.  E.  Hark,  sir!    speak  not!    Await  you    my  good 
pleasure. 
Good  Princess  Mary,  art  thou  dumb,  or  doth 
My  presence  so  perturb  thy  mind,  that  thou 
With  a  prophetic  spirit,  do  divine 
Thy  downfall?     N^ay,  nay,  Princess,  lament  not, 
He  shall  enjoy  his  life  and  shall  abide  in  safety. 
Aye,  noble  madam,  though  he  hath  indeed, 
Trimm'd  up  thy  praises  with  a  princely  tongue, 
Spoke  thy  deserving  like  a  chronicle. 
But  still  dispraising  praise,  valued  with  thee, 
Which  became  him  not;  yet,  because  he  is 
My  husband  and  the  father  of  my  sons, 
And,  withal,  loves  thee  not,  I'll  pardon  him: 
But  thee  Pll  bring  to  justice,  thou  proud  forked  one, 
ril  have  thee  presently  dispatch'd.     Thy  speech 
May  not  be  wash'd  in  Lethe  and  forgotten. 
My  lord,  go  take  her  back,  and  let  her  not  escape; 
If  she,  who  for  the  grave  is  mark'd,  should  fly, 
I  surely  will  behead  thee.     Dost  thou  hear? 
Use  diligence,  therefore,  in  her  return. 


20  The   Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Post  speedily !     Farewell. 

Q.  31.  Farewell,  proud  Queen  ; 
You  wrong  my  lord — my  honorable  friend — 
And,  with  dishonor  to  yourself,  between 
Compulsion  and  respect,  do  offer  him 
The  honour  of  marriage  with  me.     Is  he  childish 
In  reason ?     Has  he  a  white  beard?     Lies  he 
Bed-rid  ?     Or  has  he  grown  incapable  ? 
Again,  being  old,  does  he  dispute  his  own 
Estate?     If  not,  then  why  should  he  not  choose 
Himself  a  wife?     This  land  is  mine,  and  I, 
With  h9nor  and  respect,  offer  him 
These  territories,  for  this  day's  princely  service  done 
To  Scotland,  and  will  make  him 
My  husband  without  asking  your  good  will ; 
E'en  at  your  door,  I  will,  with  my  good  lords. 
And  harness'd  troops  revel  in  your  nation's  chambers. 
Sorry  am  I  that  you  are  so  old ! 
I'll  have  you,  England's  sometime  queen,  as  you 
Affect  a  sheep's  hook,  married  to  my  shepherd, 
And  you  shall  milk  my  ewes  and  weep.     Farewell.  ^^ 

(Elizabeth  smiles  and  drops  Mary  a  curtsie. 

Q.  E.  Then  thou  compell'st  this  Prince  to  wear  the 
crown? 
But,  sir,  how  often  shall  I  bid  thee  bear  her  hence? 

L.  L.  Come  wend  with  me,  and  we  will  leave.  ^^ 

Q.  M.  Let  me  but  stay  and  speak ;  I  will  not  go. 

L.  L.  Come,  come  away ! 
I  pray  you  give  me  leave  to  lead  you  forth. 

18.  "  The  Queen  did  smile  at  this,  and,  with  excellent  cour- 
tesy, said  :  — 

19.  "Said  my  lord:— 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  21 


Q.  M.  Back,  sir;  lay  not  your  hand  ou  me ! 
I  wonder  much  that  you,  a  mighty  man. 
Should  be  a  traitor  unto  me,  your  Queen  ; 
'Tis  more  than  God  or  man  will  well  allow. 

L.  L.  Come. 

Q.  M.  Oh,  let  me  live!     Set  down  my  ransom! 
King  James  will  make  it  good. 

L.  L.  Pray,  speak  no  more. 
I   beseech  your  grace  to  return  with  me; 
Come,  and  if  I  live,  I  will  promise 
Not  to  bewray  you,  but  ere  the  sunset, 
To  see  you  plac'd  safely  in  the  castle 
From  whence  you  came  original. 

Q.  M.    Oh !    your  desert  speaks  loud,  and  I  should 


wrong  it 


To  lock  it  in  the  wards  of  covert  bosom, 
When  it  deserves,  with  character  of  brass, 
A  forted  residence  'gainst  the  tooth  of  time, 
And  razure  of  oblivion!     My  faith,  my  lord, 
In  your  integrity  stands  without  blemish, 

L.  L.  ]S"ow  is  your  time;  give  me  your  hand ;  kneel 
Before  Elizabeth  and  pray  for  mercy. 

Q.  M.  You  bid  me  seek  redemption  of  the  devil. 
If  I  would  speak,  she'd  mock  me  into  air; 
Oh!  she  would  laugh  me  out  o'  myself;  press  me 
To  death  with  wit:  therefore  let  the  old  witch. 
The  hag — who's  neither  maid,  widow,  nor  wife, — 
With  all  ill-meaning,  spill  my  blood. 
I  will  not  trouble  more  with  gentle  words, 

20.  "There  she  stopped,  with  tears;  her  swollen  heart  her 
speech  seemed  to  bereave.  The  Queen,  with  fell  look  and 
hollow  deadly  gaze,  stared  on  her:  while,  as  one  astound,  my 
lord  not  one  word  had  to  speak,  and,  by  outward  signs,  showed 
his  great  amaze : — 


22  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


This  degenerate  bastard  of  a  strumpet  mother,  ^o 

(Mary  stops  with  tears.) 
My  lord,  my  lord,  thou  cruel  lord ! 
What  frayes  ye,  that  were  wont  to  comfort  me? 
Of  this  vile  strumpet  art  thou  tlien  afraid? 
She,  who  on  my  life  doth  feed — who  sucks  the  blood, 
Which  from  my  heart  doth  bleed !     Confess  the  truth, 
And  say  by  whose  advice  I  here  did  come. 
Thou  dost  smile  at  this.  Lord  Robert. 

L.  L.  By  my  troth,  thou  speakest  truth !  the  Queen, 
Conceiving  great  fear  of  my  frail  safety, 
Will'd  me  to  bring  thee  here. 

Q.  31.  0,  you  most  blessed  ministers  above, 
Keep  me  m  patience,  and  with  ripen'd  time 
Unfold  the  evil,  which  is  here  wrapt  up 
In  countenance.     Look  yon,  my  lord,  did  you 
As  you've  confess'd,  know  that  within  this  chamber. 
Her  highness  was  conceal'd?     Is  it  true  ? 

L.  L.  It  is  true. 

Q.  M.  0  hear  me,  Justice, — 

L.  L.  Oh,  heavens !  the  vanity 
Of  wretched  fools!  oh,  hear  her  not,  your  highness, 
For  she  will  speak  most  bitterly  and  strange! 

Q.  M.  Most  strange,  but  yet  most  truly  will  I  speak. 
That  Leicester  is  foresworn ;  is  it  not  strange? 
That  Robert  is  a  murderer,  is't  not  strange  ? 
That  Dudley  is  an  adulterous  thief, 
An  hypocrite,  a  virgin-violator, 
Is  it  not  strange,  and  strange  ? 

Q  E.  Nay,  it  is  ten  times  strange. 

Q.  M.  Then  this  is  all  as  true  as  it  is  strange : 
Nay,  it  13  ten  times  true,  for  truth  is  truth 


The   Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  23 

To  the  end  of  reckoning. 

Q.  E.  Away  with  her!     Poor  soul, 
She  speaks  this  in  th'  infirmity  of  sense. 

Q.  M.  I  conjure  thee,  as  thou  believest 
There  is  another  comfort  than  this  world, 
That  thou  neglect  me  not  with  that  opinion 
That  I  am  touch'd  with' madness:  make  not  impossible 
That  which  but  seems  unlike  ;  'tis  not  impossible 
But  one,  the  wicked'st  caitiff  on  the  ground, 
May  seem  as  shy,  as  grave,  as  just,  as  absolute 
As  he ;  even  so  may  he,  your  majesty, 
In  all  his  dressings,  caracts,  titles,  forms, 
Be  an  arch- villain:  believe  it,  royal  Princess 
If  he  be  less,  he's  nothing,  but  he's  more. 
Had  I  more  name  for  badness. 

L.  L.  Darkness  and  devils!  saddle  my  horses; 
Call  my  train  together.     By  mine  honesty, 
If  she  be  mad,  as  I  believe  no  other 
From  these  idle  words,  'tis  time  she  were  away. 

Q.  E.  Away  with  her;  she  is  a  courtesan, 
And  truly  w^ill  devise  some  villainous  slander 
To  stain  and  impoison  you,  my  lord.     I'll  curb 
Her  mad  and  headstrong  humour  and  give  her  justice. 

Q.  M.  Lead  me  whither  thou  wilt,  even  to  my  death. 
I  have,  my  lord,  heard  much  of  thy  hospitality, 
But  I  see,  this  Queen,  that  the  kingly  sceptre  bears. 
Resting  in  jealous  dread,  thinks  best 
To  remove  me  somewhere  away. 
Prepare  my  horses,  marble-hearted  friend — 
More  hideous  than  the  sea-monster — 
I'll  strive  no  longer,  but  will  follow  thee: 
Come,  come,  away!  I'll  follow  thee,  my  lord, 


24  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Unto  my  prison,  where  I  may  wail  and  weep 

All  that  I  may.     Give  leave,  madam, 

That  these  slaves  of  thine  may  take  me  to  my  death. 

Q.  K  Go  !  feed  not  thyself  with  fond  persuasion. 
Assuredly  thou  shalt  not  a  succession 
Or  a  successor  upon  us  impose. 

Q.  M.  I  know  not  that,  but  of  this  I  am  assur'd, 
That  death  ends  all,  and  I  can  die  but  once ! 
Leicester,  farewell. 

L.  L.  Not  yet,  your  ^race,  I'll  bear  you  on  your  way. 

Q.  E.  Stop,  my  lord,  this  must  not  be ! 
Thou  may'st  not  take  this  railer  into  Shrewsbury. 
Where  are  the  warriors  brave,  that  with  this  plague 
Did  come?     Let  them  amain  towards  Shrewsbury  march. 
And  take  this  great-grown  traitor  with  them : 
Hence  with  her!    Come,  sir,  thou  must  walk  by  us. 
While  we  do  bend  our  course  unto  the  Tower; 
After  this  night's  perilous  task,  good  supporters  must  we 

have. 
On  other  hand,  our  soldiers  that  are  below. 
Come,  sir,  away!     Farewell,  thou  plague. ^^ 
(Elizabeth  starts  to  leave,  leaning  on  the  shoulder  of  Leices- 
ter— Mary  springs  from  her  seat.) 

Q.  31.  My  lord,  I  tell  you  that  you're  a  base-born 

And  abject  swain,  and  weel  I  wot,  you  seem 

Like  to  the  almanac  of  the  old  year  with  the  new. 

You  coward !  to  save  your  paltry  life  you  have  made 

Me  smart.     Surely,  all  the  glory  you  have  won 

21.  "And  the  ruthless,  unrelenting  Queen  would  have  left 
the  poor,  foolish  a-nd  pernicious  woman  sitting  on  the  floor. 
As  soon  as  she  beheld  the  Queen  pass,  leaning  on  the  shoulder 
of  his  lordship,  from  the  ground  lightly  upstarting,  she  did 
begin,  with  nods  and  smiles  to  scorn  him: — 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Seats.  25 


By  your  insultinp^  tyranny  is  guilty  shame. 

Oh,  monstrous  treacliery,  can  this  be  so 

That  in  alliance,  amity  and  oaths, 

There  should  be  found  such  false,  dissembling  guile? 

Life's  sweet  to  me :  oh,  shame  to  you,  "base  knight  I 

You  dastard,  that  before  a  stroke  is  given, 

Like  to  a  coward  squire  doth  run  away ! 

For  your  malicious  practices,  your  foes 

Should  tear  the  garter  from  your  craven  leg, 

Because  unworthily  you  are  install'd 

In  that  high  degree.     Such  cowards  as  you,  I  vow, 

Ought  not  to  wear  that  ornament  of  knighthood  : 

Yea,  when  the  truth  is  known,  the  world  will  say. 

That  I  was  thus  surpris'd,  was  infamous, 

And  ill-beseeming  any  man,  in  fact, 

Much  more  a  knight,  a  captain,  and  a  leader. 

When  first  this  Order  was  ordained. 

Knights  of  the  Garter  were  of  noble  birth  ; 

Valiant  and  virtuous,  full  of  haughty  courage, 

Such  as  were  grown  to  credit  by  the  wars: 

Not  fearing  death  nor  shrinking  for  distress, 

But  always  resolute  in  most  extremes: 

He  then,  that  is  not  furnish'd  in  this  sort. 

Doth  but  usurp  the  sacred  name  of  knight. 

Profaning  this  most  honorable  Order, 

And  should,  if  I  were  worthy  to  be  judge. 

Be  quite  degraded,  like  a  hedge-born  swain,- 

That  doth  presume  to  boast  of  gentle  blood. 

Ignoble  lord,  stain  to  your  countrymen, 

Follow,  I  pray,  your  desperate  paramour. 

As  Icarus  did  of  old  his  sire  of  Crete ; 

Yet,  what  a  peevish  fool  w\as  that  of  Crete 


26  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Seots. 


That  taught  his  son  the  office  of  a  fowl ! 

Indeed,  for  all  his  wings  the  fool  was  drown'd : 

Rather  am  I  Dsedalus;  you,  the  poor  boy 

Icarus;  and  she,  the  sun  that  seared 

The  wings  of  that  sweet  boy,  or  else  the  sea, 

Whose  envious  gulf  did  swallow  up  his  life. 

Sure  am  I,  sir,  you  are  well  kiss'd,  and  that 

She  will  dissolve  you  yet :  her  sister  slew 

The  Earl  of  Northumberland,  your  father. 

And,  coupled  in  bonds  of  perpetuity. 

Two  Dudleys,  soon,  will  through  the  lither  sky 

Have  wing'd  their  flight.  '^ 

(Elizabeth  laughs  in  scorn.) 

Q.  E.  Lo,  my  dear  lord. 
These  words  of  hers  draw  life-blood  from  our  heart ! 
Art  weary  of  thy  life  ?     If  thou  dost  make  us  stay, 
'Tis  but  the  shortening  of  thy  life  one  day  ! 
Thou  hear'st  thy  doom;  be  packing,  therefore,  straight; 
Thou  tempt' st  the  fury  of  our  three  attendants- 
Lean  famine,  quartering  steel  and  climbing  fire : 
Thou  ominous  and  fearful  owl  of  death. 
Thy  nation's  terror  and  their  bloody  scourge, 
The  period  of  thy  tyranny  approaches. 
Moved  with  compassion  of  thy  country's  wrack, 
Together  with  the  pitiful  complaints 
Of  such  as  thy  oppression  feeds  upon, 
We  have,  upon  a  special  cause,  concluded 
To  root  thee  up,  and  spill  the  base. 
Contaminated,  misbegotten  blood 
Of  thine  that  is  polluted  with  thy  lusts, 
Stain'd  with  the  guiltless  blood  of  innocents, 

22.  "  Here  EUzabeth  laughed  in  scorn  and  said: — 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  27 

Corrupt  and  tainted  with  a  thousand  vices : 

And  then,  with  colours  spread  to  march 

With  all  our  English  troops  following  after  us, 

To  lay  thy  stately,  air-braving  towers  even  with  the  earth, 

And  give  unto  thy  son  chastisement  for  this  abuse, 

And  let  him  perceive  how  ill  we   brook   his   mother's 

treason. 

My  lord,  take  leave  of  this  fair  giglot  wench ; 

Come,  side  by  side  together  will  we  leave. 

Q.  M.  Go  ;    do  what  you  will!  I  command  you,  go! 

Flight  shall  not  clear  you  from  this  murd'rous  stain! 

No  more  can  I  be  sever'd  from  your  side, 

No  more  can  you  yourselves  in  twain  divide. 

( The  Earl's  servants  form  a  lane, 

through  which  the  Queens  make  exit.)  " 


23.  "At  the  Queen's  going  away,  the  Earl's  servants  stood 
in  a  seemly  manner  in  their  hvery  coats,  and  cognizancies, 
ranged  on  both  sides,  and  made  the  Queen  a  lane;  then  forth, 
through  the  city  to  the  Tower  gates,  they  marched;  from 
whence,  unto  the  valiant  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  their  fair  pris- 
oner was  straight  dispatched. 


28  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


(Bacon  and  the  Decipherer.) 

"  Kow  sir,  if  you,  the  writer  of  this  narrative,  will  again 
read  o'er  the  lines,  you  will  see  that  I  have  changed  my  style, 
and  compiled  this  tragic  history  as  a  play,  and,  act  by  act,  tell 
the  event." 

"  How  many  acts  are  there?" 

"  Five,  wherein  I  purpose  to  speak  actively,  without  dilat- 
ing or  digressing.  Turn  backward,  and  single  out  the  play 
and  the  players." 

"  What  am  I  to  do  when  I  find  out  where  the  tragedy 
begins?" 

"  Bring  it  forth.  Faithfully  transcribed,  it  discloses  the 
author  of  the  plays,  because,  if  I,  Master  Francis  Bacon,  set 
down  the  history  of  my  father,  my  mother,  and  the  Queen  of. 
Scots,  as  a  play,  and  did  mask  it  in  plays,  then  I  did  write 
them  all.  In  my  judgment,  though  some  may  speak  openly 
against  my  books,  when  they  come  to  read  the  play — which  is 
of  a  self-same  colour  as  King  John,  Henry  the  Fourth,  Henry 
the  Fifth,  and  Henry  the  Sixth  on  the  one  side,  and  Csesar, 
Othello,  and  the-  Comedies  on  the  other, — it  will  prove  me, 
Francis  Bacon,  to  have  been  the  author  of  these  narrations, 
and  satisfy  the  mountebanks,  that  represent  you  as  full  of 
knavish  impostures.  When  your  auditors  hear  and  see  this 
play,  in  which  are  lines,  that  with  the  most  excellent  of  the 
others  are  parallel,  they  will  leave  no  sour  annoy  for  you. 
Even  the  youths  that  thunder  at  a  play-house  will,  with  their 
loud  applause  and  aves  vehement,  cut  off  all  ill-affected  speech. 
And  here,  I  hope,  begins  your  lasting  joy;  aye,  in  my  heart  of 
hearts  I  do;  for  behold  !  you,  yourself,  do  take  a  taking  part." 

"What's  here?  I  take  no  part  in  this,  but  that  of  the 
maid's — I  dance  to  another's  music." 

"  I^"ot  so.  One  scene  of  it,  you  will  find,  is  Bacon  with  his 
scholar;   the  lines   his  pupil   speaks  are  no  other -than  the 


The   Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  29 

Cipher's  key;  that  part  is  yours,  and  so,  you  shall  convert  the 
world  to  single  thinking,  with  your  own  voice." 

"  I  love  the  people,  but  I  do  not  like  to  stage  me  to  their 
eyes.  Though  it  do  well,  I  do  not  relish  well  this  childish 
sport;  I  will  not  represent  my  own  image." 

"  Well  then,  let  me  speak." 

"  I  stay  upon  your  leisure." 

"O  stand  forth,  and,  with  bold  spirit,  relate  what  you,  most 
like  a  careful  subject,  have  collected  out  of  my  misplac'd 
books.  Speak  it,  as  I  pronounce  it  to  you,  trippingly  on  the 
tongue :  if  you  mouth  it,  as  many  players  do,  I  had  as  leave 
the  town  crier  spoke  my  lines.  Do  not  saw  the  air  too  much 
with  your  hand,  thus,  but  use  all  gently:  for  you  must  acquire 
and  beget  a  temperance.  Now,  my  lord,  I  desire  to  give  you, 
by  parallels,  the  secret  that  deludes  them  all." 

"  It  is  impossible." 

"  I  say  nay  to  that,  my  lord,  I  know  that  you  are  a  king 
of  learning,  and  that,  prompted  and  incited  by  the  nature  of 
your  education,  you  have  done  the  work  of  a  servant,  and  yet 
thereby  your  well-deserved  Honour  and  Eej^utation  is  certain. 
No  doubt,  without  your  eyes,  these  stories,  (disclosing  the 
greatest  mysteries  of  this  Isle,)  could  never  have  been  resolved ; 
but  now  you  will  bring  to  a  happy  issue,  the  exact  solution  of 
my  riddle,  which  argues  your  wisdom  and  your  love.  And,  I 
hope  good  Fortune,  will  give  you  hours  of  happiness  without 
number;  and  that,  wearing  the  garland  I  have  presented  you, 
you  will  take  your  place  on  the  seat  of  the  poets;  and  I  hoj)e 
your  name  will  go  with  mine  through  all  ages.  Your  scope 
is  as  mine  own,  so  to  enforce  the  laws  as  to  your  soul  seems 
good.  May  the  heavens  give  safety  to  your  23urposes;  and,  to 
the  hopeful  execution  of  your  commission  do  I  leave  you. 
Once  more,  give  me  your  hand,  and  I'll  lead  you  forth  and 
bring  you  back  in  safety.  Take  my  blessing;  God  protect 
you,  into  whose  hands  I  give  my  life.     Fare  you  well." 

"  I  thank  you.     Farewell." 


30  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Actus  Secundus.     Scena  Prima. 


{Street  in  front  of  the  Tower  gates,  London.     Time,  midnight.) 
Enter  Queen  Elizabeth,  Earl  of  Leicester  and  train,  with  torches. 

Q.  E.  My  lord, 

Nobly  and  sumptuously  hast  thou  entertain'd  • 

This  fair  rebel.     Oh,  how  much  art  thou  like 

Mark  Antony,  who  kiss'd  his  orient  pearl 

With  many  double  kisses ! 

And  thou,  my  brave  Murk  Antony,  hast 

In  immodest  love,  with  many  a  joyful  kiss 

And  melting  tear,  embraced  this  vain  castaway, 

"  Whose  flow'ring  pride,  so  fading  and  so  fickle, 
Short  Time  shall  soon  cut  down  with  his  consuming  sickle.' 

High-minded  Cleopatra,  sovereign  of  Egypt, 

With  stroke  of  asp  did  sting  herself  to  death ; 

And  Sthenebcea  bold,  with  wilful  cord 

Did  choke  herself  for  wanting  of  her  will ; 

But  thou  false  knave,  this  worthless  mistress  o'  thine., 

Can  do  no  more  than  backbite  my  good  name. 

Ha!  hie  thee  home  to  bed. 

Thou  subtile,  perjur'd,  false,  disloyal  man. 

Think'st  thou  I  am  so  shallow,  so  conoeitless. 

To  be  seduced  by  thy  flattery  ? 

Thou  hast  deceiv'd  so  many  w;ith  thy  vows. 

That  thou  thmkest  thou  art  sure  of  me. 

Thy  bones  are  hollow,  and  impiety 

Ilath  made  a  feast  of  thee  ;  which  of  thy  hips, 

Has,  sir,  the  most  profound  sciatica? 

Nay,  but  I  know  thee ;  I  am  priz'd  so  slight 

That  thou  hast  forsworn  me  thus  shamelessly. 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots-.  31 

Think'st  thou  thy  oaths  will  compass  thy  least  wish? 

Though  each  particular  saint  they  would  swear  down, 

My  good  lord,  I  would  not  now  believe  them. 

Oh !  I  have  fed  upon  this  woe,  already, 

And  now  excess  of  it  will  make  me  surfeit ; 

Even  as  one  heat  another  "heat  expels, 

Or  as  one  nail  by  strength  drives  out  another. 

So  the  remembrance  of  thy  former  love 

Is  by  a  newer  object  quite  forgotten. 

Nay,  more; 

All  th'  cunning  manner  of  my  death's  determin'd  of, 

And  all  the  means  are  plotted  and  'greed  on : 

I  know  how  she  must  from  her  window  climb, 

At  th'  midnight  hour,  and  that  thou,  for  her  flight, 

Will  have  all  necessaries  that  she  must  use, — 

The  ladder  of  cord  is  made,  and  now  is  in 

The  chamber  of  mine  enemy.     Believe  me, 

Were  I  of  evil  disposition,  sir, 

Within  three  days  thy  head  would  be  chopp'd  off; 

But  after  all,  I  am  in  this,  thy  wife, 

And  at  the  hazard  of  my  friends  and  state, 

I'll  use  thee  gently.     From  henceforth,  from  me 

And  from  thy  friends,  my  lord,  thou  art  banish'd  ; 

Thy  falsehood,  cowardice  and  poor  descent — 

Three  things  that  women  highly  hold  in  hate — 

I  will  forget,  and  in  dumb  silence  bury 

The  slander  and  the  shame  thou'st  put  on  me; 

And  now  begone;  I'll  presently  deliver 

Thee  thy  commission.  ^ 


24.  "  The  Earl,  when  great  Cynthia's  displeasure  brake, 
with  wonderous  skill  did  plain,  and  move  for  her  to  take  him 
to  her  grace  again  ;  said  he : — 


32  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 

L.  L.  You  are  void  of  pity, 
If  you  do  banish  me.     O  pity  me, 
My  love,  and  pardon  me,  sweet  Queen  ! 

Q.  E.  My  stubborn  smart 
Thou  dost  not  aught  assuage,  but  more  annoyance  breed. 
Therefore,  speak  not !     Thy  best  appointment  make  with 

speed, — 
To-morrow  you  set  on.     Go  !     Fare  thee  well. 

L.  L.  Is  there  no  remedy  ? 

Q.  E.  None  but  such  remedy 
As,  to  save  a  head,  to  cleave  a  heart  in  twain. 

L.  L.  But  is  there  any? 

Q.  E.  Yes,  there's  a  devilish  mercy  m  thy  judge 
If  thou  wilt  implore  it,  that  will  free  thee 
From  banishment,  but  it  w-ill  fetter  thee  till  death. 

L.  L.  Perpetual  durance  ? 

Q.  E.  Aye,  just  perpetual  durance; 
A  restraint  through  all  the  world's  vastidity. 

L.  L.  Oh !  I  do  fear  thee,  and  I  quake! 
0  let  me  entreat  thee  cease.     Give  me  thy  hand, 
That  I  may  dew  it  with  my  mournful  tears; 
Nor  let  the  rain  of  heaven  wet  this  place, 
To  wash  away  my  woful  monument. 
Oh,  could  this  kiss  be  printed  in  thy  hand, 
That  thou  mightest  think  upon  the  seal. 
Through  whom  a  thousand  sighs  are  breath'd  for  thee ! 

Q.  E.  Get  thee  gone !    Speak  not  to  me  !    Even  now, 
begone ! 

L.  L.  Oh,  go  not  yet;   even  thus  two  friends  con- 
demn'd. 
Embrace  and  kiss  and  take  ten  thousand  leaves, 
Loather  a  hundred  times  to  part,  than  die: 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  33 


Yet  DOW  farewell,  and  farewell  life  with  thee; 

Tlius  is  poor  Robin  ten  times  banished — 

Once  by  his  fault,  and  three  times  thrice  by  thee.^ 

(Elizabeth  thrusts  him  away, 

enters  the  palace  gates,  ivhich  close.) 

I'll  empty  all  these  veins,  and  drop  by  drop, 

Shed  my  dear  blood  in'  th'  earth,  ere  I  will  go! 

Let  my  soul  want  mercy,  if  I  do  not  join 

In  her  behalf  with  Scotland  I     She  is  fair, 

And  not  a  scurvy,  old  cozening  devil, 

Who,  like  the  sanctimonious  pirate 

That  went  to  sea  with  the  ten  commandments, 

Scrap'd  out  of  the  table—"  Thou  shalt  not  steal ;  " 

I  have  heard  that  her  grace,  hath  razed 

A  commandment  to  leave  her  free. 

God-a-mercy  !  If  I  do  speak  or  laugh 

Familiarly  with  such  or  such  woman. 

Then  presently  she  is,  without  a  cause. 

So  jealous  and  suspicious,  that  she  doth 

Vulgarly  and  personally  let  slip, 

Even  like  an  o'ergrown  lion  in  a  cave, 

That  goeth  out  to  prey. 

F.  Bacon.  But  she  loves  you, 
And  love,  you  know,  is  full  of  jealousy. 

L.  L.  What!  what  fellow  was  that  that   dared  to 

speak  ? 
F.  B.  My  lord,  'twas  I. 
L.  L.  What  man  art  thou? 

25.  "She  would  not  hear  and  stoutly  thrust  him  away, 
and  did  enter  in  the  tower  gates;  when  my  lord  saw  that  all 
hope  was  gone,  and  all  that  he  had  foolishly  lost  by  game  of 
tick-tack,  he  did  unloose  his  tied-up  tongue  and  damned  the 
woman  that  wronged  him;  he  said: — 


34  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


F.  B.  Son  to  your  noble  lordship. 

L.  L.  Well  done,  my  boy.     What  hath  called  thee 
here  ? 

F.  B.  I  came  to  see  thyself. 

L.  L.  What  seek  ye,  Francis? 

F.  B.  My  lord,  cheer  up  your  heart.     Your  foes -are 
nigh, 
And  this  soft  courage  makes  your  followers  faint. 

L.  L.  Hold,  villain  !  hold  !     Should  I  suspect 
Thou  wouldst  betray  me,  I  would  murder  thee. 

F.  B.  I  am  too  mean  a  subject  for  thy  wrath  ; 
Upon  her  grace,  be  thou  reveng'd  and  let  me  live ; 
But  kill  me  with  thy  weapon,  not  with  words, 
Or,  rather,  use  thy  sword  to  rid  thee  of  tliy  foes ; 
My  breast  can  better  brook  thy  dagger's  point, 
Than  can  my  ears,  among  this  company. 
Hear  thee  so  make  our  gracious  Queen  thy  theme  ! 
If  thou  please,  let  us  hence,  and  thus  avoid 
Her  ill-timed  suspicion.     Bitter  fear 
O'er-shades  me ;  it  is  folly,  in  the  streets 
So  to  babble  and  talk.     Thy  fingers  to  thy  lips, 
And  I  will  respect  thee  as  a  father, 
But  thy  discretion  better  can  persuade, 
Than  I  am  able  to  instruct  or  teach  ; 
Therefore  let  us  go  cheerfully  together, 
And  digest  thy  angry  choler  on  thine  enemies. 
If  thou  forsake  our  gracious  Queen, 
To  waste  thyself  upon  a  fugitive, 
Thou  art  not  worthy,  sir,  of  preservation. 

L.  L.  Boy,  by  my  soul,  she  knew  not  what  she  did 
When  thus  she  spake  to  me.     Knowest  thou 
That  I  am  banished  ?     Ah  !  hadst  thou  heard 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  oj  Scots.  35 


Her  foul  reproaches,  full  deeply  then, 
Thou  hadst  divin'd  my  unqualitied  shame. 

F.  B.  My  lord,  I  have  heard  and  seen  all, 

L.  L.  Well  then, 
Should  I  not  ease  my  heart,  even  if  it  be 
With  hazard  of  my  head  ?     I  prithee,  boy. 
Trouble  me  no  more. 

F.  B.  What  valor  were  it,  when  a  cur  doth  grin, 
For  one  to  thrust  his  hand  between  his  teeth, 
When  he  might  spurn  him  with  his  foot  away? 
To  take  all  vantages,  is  no  impeach 
Of  valor,  sir.     What  would  your  lordship  do? 
Make  stand  against  the  Queen? 
My  lord,  so  strives  the  woodcock  with  the  gynne, 
So  doth  the  connie  struggle  in  the  net. 

L.  Li.  So  triumph  thieves  upon  their  conquer'd  booty. 

F.  B.  So  true  men  yield,  with  robbers  so  o'ermatcht. 
Wrath  makes  you  deaf;  you  talk  like  one  that  doth 
Upon  a  mole-hill  stand,  and  reach  with  outstretcht  arms, 
At  rocky  mountains,  yet,  when  all  is  done, 
Hath  parted  but  the  shadow  with  his  hand. 
Come,  your  father's,  IS'orthumberland's,  head — 
After  many  scorns,  many  foul  taunts — they  took. 
And  on  the  gates  they  set  the  eame,  and  there 
It  did  remain,  the  saddest  spectacle 
That  ere  was  view'd :  and,  ten  to  one,  she'll  do 
To  you  as  was  unto  Northumberland  done. 

L.  Li.  I  know  it  well ;  yet  blame  me  not. 
She  forbade  my  tongue  to  speak,  and  boy, 
r  th'  presence  of  ray  servants,  aye,  with  outstretcht  throat, 
Did  tell  the  world  aloud  my  privy  faults. 

F.  B.  The  fox  barks  not,when  he  would  steal  the  lamb; 


36  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  iScots. 

Dismiss  your  followers  and  abate  your  wrath. 
I  grant  that  oft  she  puts  her  tongue  to  speech 
Not  fit  for  Albion's  sovereign  ;  but  for  you, 
My  lord,  it  had  been  better  you  had  kiss'd 
Your  three  fingers,  than  with  your  tongue  to  tell 
The  passion  of  your  heart.     She  is  your  Queen, 
And  heedful  ears  may  chance  to  find  you  oat; 
Then  will  thick  darkness  and  the  gloomy  shade 
Of  death  environ  you,  till  mischief  and  despair 
Drive  you  to  break  your  neck,  or  hang  yourself. 

L.  L.  Peace,  peace! 
Boiling  choler  chokes  the  passage  of  my  voice! 
I'll  plant  the  Scottish  Queen  even  in  the  chair  of  state. 
This  answer  (at  my  dearest  cost)  I  will 
Return  to  her. 

F.  B.  My  gracious  lord,  the  cedar, 
Whose  arms  give  shelter  to  the  princely  eagle. 
Under  whose  shade  the  ramping  lion  sleeps, 
Whose  top-branch  overpeers  Jove's  spreading  tree, 
And  keeps  low  shrubs  from  Winter's  pow^erful  wind, 
Yields  to  the  axe's  edge  :  those  eyes. 
That  now  are  piercing  as  the  mid-day  sun 
To  search  the  secrets  of  the  world, 
Will  then  be  dimm'd  with  death's  black  veil ; 
The  wrinkles  on  your  brows,  which  have  been  likenM  oft 
To  kingly  sepulchres,  with  blood  be  fill'd ; 
Your  glory  smear'd  in  dust  and  blood  ;  your  parks, 
Your  walks,  your  manors,  be  delivered 
Unto  your  foes ;  and  of  all  your  lands, 
Naught  will  be  left  but  your  poor  body's  length. 
Dig  not  your  grave !  turn  not  to  earth  and  dust  I 
Away,  away !  live,  rule  and  reign  ! 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Turn  th'  leaf  and  read,  and  in  the  interim, 
Having  weigh'd  it,  recover  all  your  loss  again. 
Think  what  hath  chanc'd,  is  but  new  honors  come 
Upon  you,  which  like  to  strange  garments,  fit 
Not  to  their  mould  but  with  the  aid  of  use. 
Be  patient,  good  my  lord,  cease  to  lament. 

L.  L.  Thy  speech  shows  fair;  be  thou  my  advocate 
With  the  angry  Queen. 

F.  B.  ^Yhat  would  you  have  me  plead  for,  my  lord  ? 

L.  L.  As  thou  lovest  and  tenderest  me. 
Dissuade  the  Queen  from  having  me  banish'd. 
Oh  I  banished ! — that  one  word — banished  ! 
It  presses  to  my  memory, 
Like  evil  deeds  to  dying  sinners'  minds! 
Plead  for  me  that  I  be  not  exiled. 

F.  B.  My  lord,  your  lordship  knows,  it  lies 
Not  in  my  power  to  dissuade  the  Queen ; 
But  I  will  testify  my  zeal  unto  the  crown. 
And,  as  I  bear  your  name,  with  show  of  zeal 
Will  speak  in  your  behalf.     Why  look  you  still 
So  stern  and  tragical  ?  * 

L.  L.  Thou  wilt  be  repuls'd. 

F.  B.  It  may  be  very  likely;  but  I  hope 
That  words,  sweetly  placed  and  modestly  directed, 
Will  change  her  mind  and  save  you  from  exile. 
Come,  my  lord,  break  not  now  into  passion. 
But  speak  her  fair  and  flatter,  most  obsequious 
And  willing. 

L.  L.  Knowing  how  hardly  I  can  brook  abuse, 
It  is  not  well,  thus  boldly  to  whip  me! 
Yet  I,  in  silence,  will  keep  in,  and  if 
There  yet  remains  of  thy  persuading  art 


38  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


A  little  remnant,  why,  appease,  I  pray, 
Our  jealous  Queen. 

F.  B.  My  lord,  I  will  plead  well 
Your  fair  deserts,  and  be  assur'd  I  will 
Repeal  you,  or  adventure  to  be  banished 
Myself.     But  look,  my  lord,  our  torches  die. 

L.  L.  Do  not  light  them. 
I'll  lock  thy  worthy  counsel  in  my  breast. 
And  what  I  do  imagine,  let  it  rest.  {Exeunt.) 


Scena  Sectnida. 


{Audience  Room  of  the  Palace.) 
Queen  Elizabeth  and  Master  Francis  Bacon. 


Queen  Elizabeth.  Well  pleadest  thou,  for  this   great 
peer, 
But  tell  me,  sith  that  thou  and  I  are  here, 
How  is't  t'  enrich  the  storehouse  of  thy  powerful  wit, 
That  this  great  bagpipe  man,  that  roars  so  loud 
And  thunders  in  the  night,  comes  not  himself? 

Francis  Bacon.  He  hath  sent  me  in  his  stead,  and 
As  did  Aeneas  old  Anchises  bear, 
So  bear  I,  upon  my  manly  shoulders, 
My  father's  fame ;  but  Aeneas  bare  a  living  load, 
Nothing  so  heavy  as  these  woes  of  his. 
Uncurable  discomfit  reigns  within 
His  heart,  and  he  doth  entreat  your  grace,  that 
Have  into  monstrous  habits  put  the  graces 
That  once  were  his,  with  charity  to  interpret 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  39 


His  well-disposed  mind ;  and  weeping  forth 
His  welcomes,  asks  of  thee  forgiveness. 

Q.  E.  Hark !  dare  not  speak  too  loud,  lest  that  thy 
speech 
Shall  to  our  flaming  wrath  be  oil  and  flax. 
We  will  not  have  to  do  with  pity. 
The  well-disposed  mind  growing  once  corrupt. 
Turns  noble  benefits  to  vicious  forms, 
Ten  times  more  ugly  than  ever  they  were  fair. 
This  man  so  complete,  who  was  enroU'd  'mongst  wonders, 
That  when  he  spoke,  we  almost  with  ravish'd  list'ning, 
Could  not  find  his  hour  of  speech,  a  minute ; 
He,  fit  indeed  to  use  in  all  assays — 
Whether  ffer  arms  and  warlike  amenauuce, 
Or  for  a  wise  and  civil  governaunce — 
Doth,  in  his  courting  of  this  strange  princess, 
Invite  us  aye,  to  act  in  cruelty. 
Into  as  many  gobbits  will  we  cut 
That  fatal  screech-owl  to  our  house, — 
That  nothing  sings  but  death  to  us  and  ours, — 
As  wild  Medea,  young  Abisirtis  did. 
Death  will  stop  her  dismal  threatening  sound. 
And  her  ill-boding  tongue  no  more  shall  speak: 
Dark  cloudy  death  will  overshade  her  beams  of  life; 
And  we'll  surely  blast  thy  father's  harvest. 
Take  heed  lest  that  sweet  Death  doth  reap  thee,  too ! 
We'll  banish  him  on  pain  of  death. 

F.  B.  Forgive  my  presumption. 

Q.  E.  Hadst  thou  been  kill'd  when  first  thou  didst 
presume. 
Thou  hadst  not  liv'd  to  be  attorney 
For  this  base  ignoble  wretch. 


40  The   Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


God  knows  thou  art  the  first  fruit  of  mj  flesh, 

But  hast  thy  father's  heart.     Thy  parentage 

Thou  canst  not  e'er  deny,  fill'd  as  thou  art 

With  all  thy  father's  vicious  qualities : 

I  did  bear  thee,  but  he  did  beget  thee. 

Begone,  thou  graceless  boy!  get  thee  from  my  sight. 

F.  B.  Here  on  my  knee,  I  beg  mortality 
Rather  than  life  preferr'd  with  infamy ! 
If  I,  to-day,  die  not  with  thy  fell  rage, 
To-morrow  I  shall  die  with  mickle  age ! 
That  my  father  might  be  saved,  to  thee  I  come ; 

0  twice  my  mother,  twice  am  I  thy  son ; 

Thou  gav'st  me  life,  and  rescued  me  from  death, 

1  give  to  thee  my  sword,  my  soul,  my  breath ; 
Rather  than  ill  shall  shame  my  mother's  womb, 
All  my  fair  hopes  shall  lie  in  one  dark  tomb : 
No  power  have  I  to  speak  for  him,  I  know, 
And  so  farewell.     I  and  my  griefs  will  go. 

{Enter  a  messenger.) 
Mess.  Your  grace,  the  Earl  of  Leicester 
Doth  crave  to  be  admitted  to  your  presence. 

Q.  E.  "What  means  his   grace,  that  he  so  plain  and 
blunt 
Doth  audience  demand?     Let  him  come  near. 

{Enter  Leicester) 
V  God's  name,  lord,  how  darest  thou  attend  on  us? 
Go  home;  return  unto  thy  house;  there  bow 
Thy  stubborn  knees  and  pray  for  her  whom  thou 
Hast  vow'd  to  serve. 

Leicester.  I  am  the  wofuUest  man  that  ever  liv'd, 
For  I  in  oblivion  and  hateful  griefs 
Must  live.    Dearer  than  life  art  thou  to  me ! 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  41 


Now  my  soul's  palace  is  become  a  prison ; 

All !  would  it  break  from  hence,  that  this,  my  body, 

Might  in  the  ground  be  closed  up  in  rest: 

For  never,  henceforth,  shall  I  joy  again, 

Never,  oh,  never  shall  I  see  more  joy ! 

To  thee  I  pray,  sweet  Queen,  O  pity  me 

Before  1  take  my  death  !     I  never  did  thee  harm  ! 

"Why  wilt  thou  slay  me? 

Q.  E.  Silence  thine  idle  tongue !     I'll  sot  thee  up  a 
glass, 
Where  thou  mayst  see  the  inmost  part  of  thee. 
Lay  not  the  flatt'ring  unction  to  thy  soul, 
That  not  thy  trespass  but  my  anger  speaks : 
It  will  but  skin  and  film  the  ulcerous  place. 
Whilst  rank  corruption,  mining  all  within, 
Infects  unseen.     Confess  thyself  to  heaven ; 
Repent  what's  past ;  avoid  what  is  to  come  ; 
And  do  not  spread  the  compost  on  the  weeds. 
To  make  them  rank.     Sir,  I  saw  the  wanton 
Pinch  thy  cheek,  call  thee  her  mouse,  and  slyly. 
Whilst  paddling  in  thy  neck  wnth  her  damn'd  fingers, 
Give  thee  a  pair  of  rechie  kisses. 
Had  I  her  brethren  here,  their  lives  and  hers 
Were  not  revenge  sulficient  for  me : 
No,  if  I  digg'd  up  her  forefathers'  graves, 
And  hung  their  rotten  coffins  up  in  chains, 
It  could  not  slake  mine  ire,  nor  ease  my  heart. 
The  sight  of  her  or  any  of  her  house, 
Is  as  a  fury  to  torment  my  soul ; 
Until  I  root  out  her  accursed  line 
And  leave  not  one  alive,  I  live  in  hell. 
Therefore,  begone. 


42  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


L.  L.  0  thou  hast  cleft  my  heart  in  twain. 

Q.  E.  0  throw  away  the  worser  part  of  it, 
And  live  the  purer  with  the  other  half. 
Thou  hast  out-paramour'd  the  Turk. 

L.  L.  Your  highness,  it  is  no  blot  or  foulness, 
No  unchaste  action  or  dishonor'd  step, 
That  hath  depriv'd  me  of  thy  grace  and  favor. 
It  is  but  this :  that  jealous  of  my  love. 
To  work  my  fortune's  ill  with  foul  suspicion. 
The  gallants  stuff  thy  ears, — 
Oh!  monstrous  villainy, — when  they  know 
Sooner  would  I  the  fiery  elements 
Dissolve,  and  make  thy  kingdom  in  the  sky, 
Than  this  base  earth  should  shroud  your  majesty. 

Q.  E.  I  bear  an  honourable  mind,  and  am 
Not  carried  with  the  common  wind  of  courts, 
Nor  do  I  after  tattling  fables  fly. 
Restrain  thy  apprehension ;  I  will  lay 
Trust  upon  thee,  and  thou  shalt  find  I  will 
Preserve  and  love  thee;  I've  conferred  on  thee 
The  commandment  of  mine  army  beyond  the  sea. 
Now,  my  lord,  to  the  council  follow  me. 

L.  L.  I  will  attend  upon  your  highness.  -^     {Exeunt.) 


26.  "  Unto  the  council  chamber  they  have  gone,  thence 
will  we,  therefore,  to  look  on  and  see,  how  in  their  counsels, 
they  do  all  agree : — 


The   Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  43 


Actus  Tertius.     Scena  Prima. 


(Council  Chamber  of  the  Palace) . 
Lords  seated  at  Table.    Queen  Elizabeth  on  a  raised  throne. 


Queen  Elizabeth.  My  lords,  Philip  of  Spain, — the  foul, 
accursed  minister  of  hell, — hath  joined  with  the  French- 
men, our  baleful  enemies,  and  in  league  with  Burgundy, 
gathers  strength.  Their  armies  that  were  divided  into 
two  parts,  are  now  conjoined  in  one,  and  presently  mean 
to  give  battle  to  the  states  of  Christendom.  Moved  with 
remorse  of  these  outrageous  broils,  we  trust  the  proft'er 
we  have  made  unto  the  rightful  Lord  Protector  of  the 
Low  Countries,  will  give  you  all  content.  This  letter  doth 
contain  it.  This  it  is.  We  have  begged  my  lord  to  accept 
this,  our  servant,  whom  we  send  as  image  of  our  power, 
to  be  the  captain  of  our  victorious,  armed  Englishmen, 
that  now  war  with  him  against  our  enemies.  Judge  then, 
great  lords,  if  we  have  done  amiss  in  this.  Speak  freely, 
we  cannot  hear  too  much  in  matter  of  such  moment:  my 
good  Lord  Chancellor,  speak  thou  as  free  as  mountain 
wind. 

Lord  Chancellor.  Your  grace,  it  is  not  meet  that  he 
should  be  sent  as  your  grace's  image,  for  that  he  was  a 
traitor  to  the  crown.  His  father  shook  hands  with  death, 
and  will  you  pale  your  head  in  the  son's  glory,  and  rob  your 
temples  of  the  diadem?  For  he  doth  hope  to  reign.  He 
hath  gelded  the  commonwealth,  and  made  of  it  an  eunuch, 
and  should  your  majesty  put  about  his  neck  the  scarf,  and 
m  his  hands  the  staff,  no  good  will  come  of  it. 

Lord  Leicester.  I  beseech  your  majesty,  do  not  cast 
away  an  honest  man  for  a  villain's  accusation. 


44  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 

Q.  E.  By  the  eternal  God,  whose  name  and  power 
thou  tremblest  at,  answer  what  we  shall  ask.  Thou  shalt 
not  pass  from  hence  but  to  execution,  till  thou  dost  speak 
the  truth. 

L.  L.  Ask  what  thou  wilt. 

Q.  E.  Think'st  thou  to  rise  from  beggar's  state  unto 
this  princely  seat?  Hast  thou  intent  to  destroy  the  realm 
and  slay  your  sovereign  ? 

L.  L.  'Tis  their  intent  to  slaughter  me. 
Oh,  were  mine  eyeballs  into  bullets  turn'd. 
That  I,  in  rage,  might  shoot  them  at  their  faces ! 
Grant  me  th'  commission,  gracious  sovereign, 
And  you  may  behold  confusion  of  your  foes. 
So  help  me  righteous  God,  against  this  state 
I  have  no  thought;  with  pure,  unspotted  heart, 
Never  yet  taint  with  aught  but  love,  I  have, 
O  gentle  Princess,  ever  sought  to  be 
A  faithful  servant  t'  mine  anointed  Queen  : 
Your  grace  doth  know,  it  is  because  no  one  should  sway, — 
No  one  but  he,  should  be  about  your  grace, — 
That  doth  engender  thunder  in  his  breast. 
And  makes  him  roar  his  accusations  forth ; 
But  he  shall  know  I  am  as  good  as  he. 

L.  C.  No,  my  good  lords,  it  is  not  that  offends, — 
It  is  not  that,  that  hath  incensed  me ! 
Thou  lordly  sir,  and  what  art  thou,  I  pray. 
But  one  imperious  in  another's  throne? 
And  if  thy  thoughts  were  sifted,  I  fear  me 
The  Queen,  thy  sovereign,  is  not  quite  exempt 
From  envious  malice  of  thy  swelling  heart. 
For  such  is  thy  audacious  wickedness, — 
Thy  lewd,  pestif'rous  and  dissentious  pranks, — 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  45 


As  very  infants  prattle  of  thy  pride. 

L.  L.  I  do  desire  thee,  sovereign,  and  lords, 
Vouchsafe  to  give  me  hearing  what  I  shall  .reply. 
If  I  were  covetous,  ambitious  or  perverse, 
As  he  will  have  me,  how  am  I  so  poor? 
Or  how  haps  it  I  seek  not  to  advance 
Or  raise  myself,  but  keep  my  wonted  colour? 
And  for  dissensions,  who  preferreth  peace 
More  than  I  do — except  I  be  provok'd? 
Mark  the  intent  o'  this  nimble-witted  councillor, 
Who,  in  cold  considerance  hath  sentenc'd  me ! 
He  knows  the  game,  how  true  he  keeps  the  wind. 

Q.  E.  Silence  !  Be  patient,  lords  I  Why  stand  ye  on 
nice  points?  My  lord  Earl,w"e  have  made  thee  Master  of 
our  Forces.  Stoop,  and  bend  thy  knee.  Swear  that  thou 
wilt,  whilst  thou  enjoyest  this  royal  dignity,  ease  thy 
country  of  distressful  war;  and  though  in  foreign  land, 
when  dreadful  danger  feeds  his  doubtful  humour,  and  is 
wont  all  zeal  of  justice  to  cut  off,  that  thou  wilt  hold  up 
our  warlike  sword,  and  for  St.  George  and  victory  fight : 
and  that  thou  wilt  live  and  die  for  England's  fame,  and 
be  true  liegeman  to  our  crown.     Take  thou  thy  oath. 

L.  L.  So  help  me  God,  I  will,  your  majesty. 

Q.  E.  Take  thy  commission  then,  as  General  of  the 
■   Forces. 
Success  unto  our  valiant  general, 
And  happiness  to  his  accomplices. 
As  time  and  our  concernings  importune, 
We  shall  write  to  thee  how  it  goes  with  us : 
And  so,  my  lord,  with  all  the  speed  thou  mayst, 
Set  on  towards  thy  commandment. 
The  justice  of  the  quarrel  and  the  cause. 


46  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Much  honor  will  engrave  upon  thy  brows. 

This  sudden  execution  of  our  will, 

We  know  thou  wilt  excuse,  for  till  thou  dost  return 

"We  rest  perplexed  with  a  thousand  cares. 

But  we,  as  erst  Princess  Andromanche, 

Seated  amidst  the  crew  of  Priam's  sons, 

Have  liberty  to  choose  where  best  we  love. 

Then  be  not  sad,  for  'tis  our  right, 

To  name  our  captain  and  our  knight.  ^  {Exeunt.) 


Scena  Secunda, 


{Council  Chamber  of  Palace,  tiuelve  months  later.) 
Lords  of  the  Council  and  Queen  Elizabeth. 

Queen  Elizabeth.  Lords,  take  your  places.  Lord 
Chamberlain,  where  are  our  notes?  Behold,  my  lords, 
the  sly  conveyances  of  Scotland's  Queen  unto  Henry  King 
of  France.  She  here  doth  claim  our  crown  by  right,  and 
we  pray  you  all,  proceed  from  this  true  evidence.  God 
forbid  any  malice  should  prevail,  or  that  faultless,  you 
condemn  her.  Pray  God  she  may  acquit  her  of  suspicion 
but  if  she  be  approved  in  practice  culpable,  then  we  intend 
to  try  her  grace. 

27.  "Now  1  slide  over  twelve  months  space:  I  turn  my 
glass,  and  give  my  scene  such  growing,  as  you  bad  slept 
between.     My  tale  is  now  about  the  Lady's  death." 

"  Were  your  eyes  witness  of  her  attainder  and  her  death  ?" 
"  No,  but  I  was  in  the  beaten  track  of  that  I  tell  you  of." 
•■'  Thou  soulderest  close  impossibilities,  and  make  them  kiss, 
that  speakest  with  every  tongue,  to  every  purpose ;  let  us  on." 
"  Good  my  lord,  look  then.  Officers  and  counsellors  are 
in  place.     The  Queen  begins  : — 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  47 

Lord  Chancellor.  Great  Sovereign,  vouchsafe  to  hear 
me  speak,  and  let  your  chancellor's  counsel  now  prevail. 
I  bend  my  knee  against  the  Queen,  that  in  thus  aiming  at 
your  life  hath  tempted  judgment.  I,  and  the  rest  that  are 
your  counselors,  with  a  general  consent,  demand  that 
articles  shall  forthwith  be  drawn  touching  the  rank  trea- 
son of  the  Queen.  Before  my  God,  I  might  not  this  be- 
lieve, without  the  sensible  and  true  avouch  of  mine  own 
eyes,  but  I  have  viewed  these  treasonable  abuses  of  her 
grace,  and  madam,  I  would  have  her,  in  private,  ascend 
to  heaven.  Granted  scope  of  speech,  will  she  not  swear 
false  allegations  to  o'erthrow  the  state?  Then  let  her  be 
sent  to  heaven,  without  the  acclamations  and  applauses 
of  the  people. 

Q.  E.  Heaven  forbid  !  My  lords,  at  once  the  care 
you  have  of  us,  to  mow  down  thorns  that  would  annoy 
our  foot  is  worthy  praise.  We  thank  you.  These  words 
content  us  much,  but  shall  we  speak  our  conscience?  God 
forefend  that  Mary  be  done  to  death  in  secret.  There 
are  such  proofs  of  the  Queen's  treason,  letters  from  the 
King  of  France  found  in  her  boxes,  the  bold-faced, bloody, 
devilish  practises  upon  our  life,  with  many  other  evi- 
dences of  deep  deceit  that  proclaim  her  with  all  certainty, 
to  be  a  fox  in  stealth,  false  in  heart  and  bloody  of  hand, 
but  we  can  give  the  loser  leave  to  chide ;  and  we  will  not 
contrary  to  law,  devise  strange  death  for  her;  and  we 
heartily  beseech  you,  dishonor  not  your  sovereign  :  there- 
fore call  home  again  the  noble  Earl,  and  in  the  balance 
of  our  English  peers,  let  her  be  weighed  :  If  she  weigh 
light  then  she  needs  must  fall.  Here  are  your  commis- 
sions. And  now,  my  gentle  lords,  fair  duty  to  you  all- 
Look  into  the  bottom  of  this  troublesome  evil,  for  know, 


48  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


under  our  seal  we  have  with  special  and  displayed  mind, 
lent  you  our  terror,  dressed  you  with  our  love,  and  to  you, 
2:iven  all  the  organs  of  our  power.  We  think  you  will 
solemnly  bear  at  full,  our  grace,  honor  and  wisdom. 

L.  C.  Always  obedient  to  your  grace,  we  will  not 
warp  the  ample  power  that  your  highness  hath  possessed 
us  with,  against  our  oaths  and  true  allegiance  sworn. 

Q.  E.  On  Thursday  next,  thou  shalt  set  forward.  The 
Clerk  of  the  Crown  hath  begun  the  penning  of  your  lord- 
ships' letters  of  commission,  which  are  fac-similies  of  this. 
Forty  peers,  knights,  captains,  lawyers  and  gentlemen, 
we  shall  employ  to  try  this  o'er-topping  woman's  treason, 
and  to  dispose  of  her  as  they  think  good.  To-night,  we 
hold  our  solemn  supper,  and  we  request  the  presence  of 
our  friends. 

All.  Let  your  highness  command  us. 

Q.  E.  God's  benyson  go  with  you  all.     Farewell.  "^ 

{Exeunt.) 


28.  "  In  conduct  of  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury,  the  Queen  of 
Scots  had,  within  the  realm  of  England,  been  at  Coventry, 
Wingfield,  Sheffield,  and.  Shrewsbury,  but  was  a  short  time 
before  her  trial,  by  will  and  warrant  of  our  gracious  sovereign, 
removed  to  Fotheringay  Castle,  in  Northamptonshire.  Of 
those  summoned  to  serve,  thirty-four  answered.  My  lords  of 
Derby,  Pembroke,  Rutland,  Worcester,  Northumberland, 
Shrewsbury,  Kent,  Lincoln,  Oxford,  Stafford,  Gray  and  War- 
wick, the  Lord  Treasurer,  the  Knights  Montague,  Hatton, 
Walsingham  and  many  other  lords  and  gentlemen  appeared 
at  the  castle,  and  on  the  eleventh  of  the  eighth  month,  and 
for  some  twelve  days  thereafter,  diligently  applied  themselves 
to  the  cause.  The  Lord  Chancellor  called  Mary  before  them, 
and  as  a  prisoner  she  was  brought  to  the  bar,  and^  in  view  of 
the  commission,  spake  to  this  eifect : — 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  49 


Actus  Quarius.     Scena  Prima. 

(Room  in  Foiheringay  Castle.) 

Lords,  K7iights,  Captains,  Lawyers  aud  Gentlemen  in  attendance. 

Queen  Maky  at  the  Bar. 


Queen  Mary.  My  learned  lords :  there  is  a  fault 
amongst  you,  aud  I  speak  it  to  your  sliame.  I  ara  the 
Queen  of  Scots,  and  yet  none  dare  speak  for  me  :  and  fur- 
ther, be  it  in  more  shame  spoken,  the  English  Queen, 
Elizabeth,  is  not  here.  Hear  then,  my  resolution :  the 
French  King's  sister  and  mother  of  the  King  of  Scots, 
doth  crave  the  presence  of  the  English  Queen. 

Lord  Chancellor.  Madam,  our  Queen  hath,  in  her 
absence,  elected  us  to  supply  her  great  countenance  and 
place;  there  is  our  commission. 

Q.  M.  Then  hear  me,  mighty  lords,  ye  Avish  my  ruin  : 
Is  this  your  Christian  counsel?     Out  upon  ye  ! 
Heaven  is  above  ye  all  yet;  there  sits  a  Judge 
That  no  king  can  corrupt. 
And  shall  the  figure  of  God's  majesty — 
His  captain,  Stewart,  deputy  elect. 
Anointed,  crown'd,  and  planted  many  years, — 
Be  judg'd  by  subject  and  inferior  breath? 
Ye  turn  me  into  nothing :  woe  upon  ye. 
And  all  such  false  professors ! 
By  heaven,  my  lords,  I  speak  to  subjects. 
And  I'll  not  tarry  here,  nor  ever  more 
Upon  this  business,  my  appearance  make 
In  any  of  your  courts. 

Jj.  C.  The  Queen  is  obstinate. 
Stubborn  to  justice,  apt  to  accuse  it. 


50  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


And  disdainful  to  be  tried  by  't. 
She's  going  away.     Call  her  again. 

Crier.  Mary,  come  into  court. 

L.  C.  Madam,  pray  you  pass  not  out :  I  require  your 
highness. 
That  it  shall  please  you  to  declare,  in  hearing 
Of  all  these  ears,  what  fault  you  find  with  us. 

Q.  M.  Now  the  Lord  help  me!  you  vex  me  past  my 
patience  ! 
I'm  robb'd   and   bound  by  subjects.      Thieves    are    not 

judg'd 
Except  m  presence  of  the  judge  and  their  accusers. 
Elizabeth  is  not  present,  and  I 

Do  beseech  your  lordships,  that  in  this  case  of  justice, 
My  accusers  (be  what  they  will)  may  stand 
Forth,  face  to  face,  and  freely  urge  against  me. 

L.  C.  Nay,  that  cannot  be ;  we  shall  give  you 
The  full  cause  of  our  coming.     If  your  grace 
Could  be  brought  to  know  our  ends  are  honest, 
You'd  feel  more  comfort :  why  should  we,  good  lady, 
Upon  what  cause,  wrong  you?     Alas!  our  places, 
Our  professions,  are  against  it. 

Q.  M.  My  life  is  innocent  from  meaning  treason 
To  any  royal  person,  my  good  lord. 
As  18  the  sucking  lamb  or  harmless  dove : 
But  I  do  know,  upon  far-fetch'd  pretence 
Without  legal  proceeding,  this  council 
Is, — in  the  interest  of  your  Queen,  who  is 
Asham'd  to  look  upon  my  hapless  death, — sent  hither 
To  work  my  downfall,  and  to  take  away  my  life. 
I  cannot  weep,  for  all  my  body's  moisture 
Scarce  serves  to  quench  my  furnace-burning  heart; 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  51 


JSTor  can  my  tongue  unload  my  heart's  great  burden, 

For  selfsame  wind  that  I  should  speak  withal, 

Is  kindling  coals  that  tires  all  my  breath, 

And  burns  me  up  with  flames  that  tears  would  quench. 

Call  hither,  I  say,  bid  come  before  me,  the  false  thrall 

That  hath  deluded  you:  bring  forth  the  gallant: 

Let  me  hear  him  speak.     Ah !  what's  more  dangerous 

Than  fond  afiiance  in  a  servant? 

Seems  he  a  dove,  his  feathers  are  but  borrow'd. 

For  he's  dispos'd,  as  is  the  hateful  raven : 

Is  he  a  lamb,  his  skin  is  surely  lent  him. 

For  he's  inclin'd,  as  is  the  ravenous  wolves, 

Who  cannot  steal  a  shape  that  means  deceit. 

Take  heed,  my  lords,  time  will  bring  to  light,  faults 

jSTow  unknown,  in  the  fraudful  man,  that  hath 

To  save  his  life,  a  tale  of  evil  told, 

L.  C.  0  foolish  Queen,  by  this  talk,  these  prattling 
speeches,  you  have  undone  yourself,  We  are  the  Queen's 
subjects  and  must  obey:  so,  please  your  highness,  the 
Queen  being  absent,  we  entreat  you  let  us  begin,  M\' 
Lord  of  Lincoln,  will  you  be  counsel  for  her  grace?  Be 
pleased  to  say. 

Lord  Lincoln.  !N"ay,  my  good  lord, 
For  no  dislike  i'  th'  world,  against  the  person 
Of  the  good  Queen,  I  may  not  execute  the  charge. 
With  all  the  rev'rend  fathers  and  learn'd  doctors 
Of  the  land  in  this  court,  by  particular  consent, 
The  daring'st  counsel,  madam,  may  be  yours. 

Q.  M.  Even  so. 
But  when  I  put  my  sick  cause  into  hands 
That  hate  me,  what  can  hap  to  me  but  death  ? 
I  have  no  stafl",  no  stay  to  lean  upon. 


52  The   Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Lord  Oxford.  Stay,  gentle  Queen, 
And  hear  me  speak :  vouchsafe  to  listen  what  I  say, 
Perhaps  I  shall  be  acceptable  to  you. 

Q.  M.  My  lord, 
I  do  not  need  your  help  ;  if  my  actions 
Were  tried  by  ev'ry  tongue,  if  every  eye  saw  'em, 
Envy  and  base  opinion  set  against  'em, 
I  know  my  life,  believe  me,  could  not  be 
Blotted,  but  with  vile,  base  and  foul  abuse. 

L.  C.  AYilt  thou  accept  my  Lord  of  Pembroke? 
Lord  Pembroke.  Your  grace. 
If  my  weak  oratory  can  win  your  highness'  safety, 
Let  me  be  commanded. 

Q.  M.  My  gracious  lord, 
I  will  submit  my  cause  to  your  nobility. 

Pemb.  May  it  please  you,  noble  madam,  to  withdraw 
Into  your  private  chamber;  I  would  speak  with  you. 

Q.  M.  Speak  it  here ; 
There's  nothing  I  have  done  yet,  o'ray  conscience, 
Deserves  a  corner:  would  all  other  women 
Could  speak  with  as  free  a  soul  as  I  do,  my  lord. 

Laivyerfor  the  Crown.  My  Lord  Chief  Justice, 
Fie  !  what  an  indirect  and  peevish  course 
Is  this  of  hers  !     With  a  foul  traitor's  name. 
Stuff  I  her  throat !     She  looks  not  like  a  thing 
More  made  of  malice  than  of  beauty,  though 
A  parent  guilt  may  well  be  seen  in  her. 
Oh,  that  in  a  Christian  climate,  souls  so  refin'd 
Should  show  so  heinous,  black,  obscure  a  deed  as  this  ! 
But,  thanks  be  to  God, 

They  accomplish'd  not  that  which  they  did  broach  for. 
This  eweet  gentleness  did  attempt  our  Sovereign's  life. 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


53 


As  is  apparent  by  this  letter,  writ 
In  a  strange  tongue  unto  the  King  of  France. 
In  obscure  words — full  of  courtesy,  grace 
And  wit,  but  empty  of  matter — she  masks  her  thoughts. 
This  is  unwonted.     'Tis  a  sign  of  league 
With  France,  when,  w^ith  incomparable  deep  foresight 
And  dexterity,  a  mighty  monarch 

Doth  send  a  messenger  to  deliver  to  King  Henry  such 
a  message, 
Q.  M.  Will  you  credit 
This  base  drudge's  words  that  speaks  he  knows  not  what? 

L.  C.  Aye,  marry  will  we. 
The  investigation  of  this  labyrinth, 
Doth  bring  forth  two  such  black  monsters,  as  scarce 
Are  besmeared  in  hell. 

Q.  M.  Take  good  heed 
You  charge  not,  in  your  spleen,  a  noble  King, 
And  spoil  your  souk 

L.  C.  Let  him  on.     Go  forward. 
Crown  Laioyer.  On  my  soul,  I'll  speak  but  truth. 
I  grieve  at  what  I  speak,  and  am  right  sorry 
To  repeat  what  follows :  most  unwillingly  I  speak. 
Would  God  that  this  most  noble  lady  had 
Had  naught  to  do,  with  these  numberless  ofiences 
'Gainst  the  English  Queen.     Beauty's  princely  majesty  is 

such, 
That  it  confounds  the  tongue  and  makes  the  senses  rough, 
And  as  the  sun  plays  on  the  glassy  stream, 
Twinkling  another  counterfeited  beam, 
So  seems  this  gorgeous  beauty,  to  the  eyes 
Of  the  weak  men  who  have  ta'en  oath,  to  kill 
Our  royal  mistress.     She  hath  a  witchcraft 


54  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


And  over  them  hath  cast  a  spell. 

We  have  found  out  matter  in  her  letters, 

That  forever  mars  the  honej  of  her  beauty. 

She  hath  a  pretty  foot,  a  cherry  lip, 

A  bonny  eye,  a  passing  pleasing  tongue, 

But  she  her  honey  hath  steeped  in  gall, 

And  fall  of  great  envy  and  fell  jealousy, 

To  win  the  crown  and  usurp  the  place  of  our  noble  Queen, 

Hath  made  suit  unto  the  French  King. 

The  common  men  she  sent,  not  knowing  whom  to  trust, 

Did  show  her  highness'  message  to  the  noble  Earl 

Of  Leicester,  who  spurr'd  fast  unto  our  Queen  : 

Then  was  this  vile  treason  and  outrageous  shame, 

Which  she  kindled,  unloos'd  'gainst  our  dread  Queen ; 

The  proof  of  all  this  cursed  plot  and  traitorous 

Design,  wherein  she  hath  aspired  to  deprive 

Elizabeth  of  her  crown,  betimes  hath  been 

Discovered;  the  actors  have  won  the  meed 

Meet  for  their  crimes,  and  are  shut  up  in  prison. 

What  tongue,  my  lords,  can  smooth  out,  first, 

The  dissimulation  of  her  grace 

And  her  deep  designs  against  the  Queen  ? 

And  second,  Elizabeth's  not  being  true  queen. 

The  which  she  doth  afiirm  ?     And  to  conclude, 

She  must  die,  or  Elizabeth  goes  down. 

Q.  31.  Good  my  lords, 
By  some  putter-on,  I  am  honor-flaw'd  ! 
Command  him  to  come  here  !     Bring  him  to  the  court ! 
Scarce  can  I  speak,  my  choler  is  so  great. 
Oh,  I  could  hew  up  rocks  and  fight  with  flint, 
I  am  so  angry  at  these  abject  terms  of  scorn. 
That  this  saucy  merchant,  who  loves  to  hear 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  55 


Himself  talk,  hath  in  his  dull  and  loug-continu'd  speech, 

Branded  me  with.     This  is  excellent  sport,' 

Y-faith,  that  I  practiced  the  Queen's  death, 

I  am  not  prone  to  weeping,  as  our  sex 

Commonly  are,  the  want  of  which  vain  dew. 

Perchance,  shall  dry  your  pities :  hut  I  have 

That  honorable  grief  lodg'd  here,  which  I,  my  lords. 

Beseech  you  all,  may  so  qualify  jour  thoughts 

And  charities,  as  shall  best  instruct  you. 

Grief  and  sorrow  hath  mortified  mv  mind. 

Quenching  its  fire;  but  let  me  speak,  myself, 

Since  virtue  finds  no  friends.     The  cause,  I  know. 

Of  all  this  array,  is  to  rid  me  of  my  life ; 

It  boots  not  then  what  I  may  do.     To  murder  me, 

To  end  my  life  by  subtlety,  is  the  drift 

Of  this  your  court;  my  accuser  is  my  servant, 

And  when  I  did  correct  him  for  a  fault 

The  other  day,  he  vow"d  upon  his  knees 

He  would  be  even  with  me.     I  have  good  witness 

Of  this,  therefore,  let  him  come  into  my  presence. 

The  rascal  shar"d  my  bounty,  yet  he  did  rob 

And  pill  me  :     "  Let  God,"  said  he,  "  if  it  please  Him, 

Care  for  the  man}- ;  I  for  myself  must  care 

Before  all  else."     And  now  he  would  betray  me 

To  my  tomb,  in  hope  of  gain. 

Burleigh.  Doleful  dame, 
Let  not  your  grief  impeach  your  reverence  for  truth. 
Let  her  in  naught  be  trusted:  the  world  reports 
Ever  for  speaking  false,  she  hath  been  noted. 

Q.  JL  My  gracious  Lord  High  Treasurer, 
You  are  a  councillor,  and  by  that  virtue, 
Xo  one  dare  accuse  you.     But  sir,  hear  me! 


56  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


I  would  you  and  I  knew  where  a  commodity 

O'  good  names  were  to  be  bought.     When  I,  in  happy 

peace, 
Possess'd  the  crown  of  Scotland,  you  were  my  sworn  ser- 
vant, 
And  made  no  scruple  of  taking  pieces  of  gold 
From  my  fingers.     You  promis'd  me  to  let  me  pass 
Through  England  unto  Paris,  and  you  then  betray'd  me. 
Truly,  I  dare  say  without  vain  glory, 
I  am  far  truer  spoke  than  you. 

Bur.  My  lords, 
She'll  wrest  the  sense,  and  hold  us  here  all  day. 
Is  it  well  such  losers  may  have  leave  to  speak? 

Q.  M.  Beshrew  the  winners,  for  they  play  me  false! 
My  heart  is  drown'd  with  grief,  whose  flood  begins 
To  flow  within  my  eyes.     Witness  my  tears, 
My  body  round  engirt  with  misery, 
For  what's  more  miserable  than  ruin  of  my  peace? 
False  peer,  you  once  did  set  me  up  in  hope — 
For  full  of  prosp'rous  hope,  by  your  fair  promises, 
I  into  England  came.     When  that  rebel  Douglas 
And  his  traitorous  rout,  with  a  mighty  and  a  fearful  head. 
Did  cast  me  off,  how  prettily  you  play'd 
The  orator,  my  lord,  and  profier'd  peace  ! 
Did  I  not  enter  England's  ground  upon 
The  ofler  of  your  sovereign's  love?     But  you 
Shall  rue  the  tears  I  shed !     Upon  my  death, 
My  uncle,  the  French  Duke,  will  become  your  foe. 

Montague.  What  if  both   James  and   Henry  be  ap- 
peas'd 
By  such  invention  as  she  can  devise? 
To  have  joined  with  France  in  such  alliance, 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  57 


Would  more  have  strengthened  this  commonwealth 
Ao-ainst  foreign  storms,  than  any  home-bred  device. 

Burleigh.  Why,  know  you    not,   Montague,  that    of 
itself 
England  is  safe,  if  true  within  itself? 

Mont.  But  th'  safer,  when  'tis  back'd  with  France. 
Bur.  'Tis  better  using  France,  than  trusting  France: 
Let  us  be  back'd  with  God  and  with  the  seas, 
Which  He  hath  given  for  'fence  impregnable, 
And  with  their  helps  only,  defend  ourselves; 
In  them,  and  in  ourselves,  our  safety  lies. 
The  love  I  bore  you,  lo,  full  again  I  speak  of. 
Madam;  think  you  we  would  let  you  in  France, 
An  army  raise,  and  as  a  conqueror  return  here? 
This  is  no  place  for  Henry's  warriors. 

Q.  M.  Therefore 
You  played  the  whole  thing!     You  say  nothing,  you  vil- 
lain ! 
Hard  is  the  choice,  when  one  is  thus  compell'd, 
Either  by  silence  to  die  with  griet, 
Or  by  speaking,  to  live  wath  shame. 

Bur.  You  do  me  wrong. 
I  have  no  spleen  against  you,  nor  injustice 
For  you  or  any:  how  far  I  have  proceeded, 
Or  how  far  further  (shall)  is  warranted 
By  my  commission.     My  lords,  I  will  be  bold 
With  time  and  your  attention :  mark  I  pray, 
Th'  ingratitude  of  this  unworthy  woman. 
Whose  head  stands  so  tickle  on  her  shoulders 
That  a  milkmaid  may  sigh  it  ofi";  I  will 
Acquaint  you  with  the  danger  to  the  state: 
We  may  excuse  this  woman's  petty  faults 


58  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


And  small  offences  done,  but  'tis  impossible 

To  guard  the  state,  if  wayward  women  shall 

Asaiust  the  realm,  reach  out  rude  hands  of  war. 

Sustained  by  the  King  of  France,  and  strengthened 

By  Burgundy  and  Spain,  she  hangs  o'er  our  heads, 

As  did  the  murd'ring  blade  o'  th'  Syracusian  King; 

The  welfare  of  us  all  hangs  on  the  cutting  short 

Of  this  most  cunning  traitor.     Proof  that  she 

Hath  sought  the  death  of  our  sovereign, 

Thine  eyes  shall  see : 

Here  is  a  letter  written  by  herself — 

"Within,  a  happy  composition,  cunningly 

Uniting  her  true  policy.     Her  suit. 

In  this  device,  is  to  th'  deceitful  King 

Of  France,  and  th'  measure  of  his  love  is  here. 

Behold  the  witness  of  the  aid  he  promises 

Which  doth  justify  her  death. 

Q.  M.  Monster! 
Com'st  thou  with  deep,  premeditated  lines — 
With  written  pamphlets  studiously  devis'd 
Against  my  life?     If  thou  canst  accuse, 
Or  aught  intend'st  to  lay  unto  my  charge, 
Do  it  without  invention,  suddenly, 
As  I  with  sudden  and  extemporal  speech 
Purpose  to  answer  thee.     Read  my  letter : 
If  it  could  speak,  it  would  inform  your  worship 
Of  my  regard  of  your  great  Queen. 

Bur.  Silence, 
Thou   proud   bawd!      Peace,   impudent   and    shameless 

woman ! 
I  have  ever  wish'd  the  sleeping  of  this  business, 
Never  desir'd  it  to  be  stirr'd,  and  have 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  59 

Hindered  oft,  the  passages  made  towards  it; 

Bat  now,  I  know  the  secret  of  thy  fraud, 

Thy  wanton  dalliance  with  a  paramour, 

The  lust  o'  thy  proud  cold  heart,  and  how  thou  hast 

By  secret  means,  used  intercession 

To  obtain  a  league,  to  take  away  the  life 

Of  England's  royal  Queen ;  I  know  how  thou, 

"With  unlawful  oaths,  didst  get  rebellions  subjects 

To  the  crown  of  England,  to  swear  allegiance 

To  thy  majesty;  to  save  our  subjects 

From  massacres  and  ruthless  slaughters,  such 

As  are  daily  seen  in  France,  we  are  proceeding 

In  hostility  to  thee,  and  to  thy  uncle. 

The  Cardinal  of  Rome.     And  let  me  here 

Recount  before  your  grace,  how  that  saucy  priest, — 

A  prelate  of  the  Church, — in  a  castle  keeps 

As  an  outlaw,  and  useth  his  spiritual  function 

To  patronage  his  theft.     He  hath  stept  in, 

In  blood  so  far,  that  should  he  wade  no  more. 

Returning  were  as  tedious  as  to  go  o'er: 

And  thou  hast  like  a  baby,  ta'en  his  tenders 

"Which  are  not  sterling,  for  true  pay;  for  thee 

There's  no  more  sailing  by  the  star  of  Rome. 

Q.  M.  Who  should  be  pitiful?     Who  should  study 
To  prefer  peace,  if  not  the  consistory  of  Rome? 

Bur.  And  yet,  these  holy  churchmen  take  delight  in 
broils; 
At  their  beck,  have  they  not  troops  of  soldiers? 
Belike,  this  good  cardinal  set  on  this  wretched  woman. 
Oh,  cunning  enemy,  that  t'  catch  a  saint. 
With  samts  doth  bait  thy  hook.     Thou,  that  became 
A  murtherer  for  thy  lascivious  wanton — 


60  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 

Q.  M.  My  lord ! 
Have  you  upon  these  slanders  well  determiii'd? 
Are  you  well  warranted  with  your  injuries? 
Unless  you  are,  accuse  me  not  of  fornication, 
Adultery  and  all  uncleanliness. 
I  slew  not  my  hushand. 

Bur.  Oh,  illegitimate  construction  ! 
I  warrant  thee  I  will,  out  of  thine  own 
Confession,  show  I  have  not  elander'd  thee. 

Q.  M.  Well  will  you  play  with  reason  and  discourse, 
And  can  persuade  the  lords, 
Murder  and  lechery  are  my  conditions. 

Bur.  Foul  fiend  and  hag  of  all  despite,  encompassed 
With  thy  paramours,  didst  thou  not  in  thine  eye, 
Thy  hand,  thy  tongue,  bear  welcome  to  beguile 
Thy  husband  to  his  death  ? 

And  didst  thou  not  look  like  th'  innocent  flower, 
But  wast  thou  not  the  serpent  under  it? 

Q.  M.  Oh,  that  my  nails  were  anchor'd 
In  thine  eyes!'  Justice,  oh.  Justice  heaven! 
Against  this  politic  sin  and  wickedness! 

Chief  Justice.  How  now  1 
What  mean  you  by  these  outcries  in  the  court, 
Where  naught  should  sound  but  harmonies  of  speech? 

Q.  M.  A  knavish  speech  sleeps  in  a  foolish  ear,  my 
lord : 
I  want  that  glib  and  oily  art  to  speak, 
Which  is  the  dowry  of  this  saucy,  scurvy  fellow, 
That  hath  most  wrongfully  accused  me 
0'  concealed  guilt.     Ere  I  learn  to  utter  English, 
This  flattering  engine  of  my  speech  will  make  void  my 
suit. 


The   Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  61 


C.  J.  What  plague  afflicts  your  royal  majesty? 

Q.  M.  A  prone  and  speechless  dialect  my  lord: 
I  would  not,  else,  stand  under  grievous  imposition ; 
Could  I  speak  fair,  what  I  know  is  true  and  false, 
I'd  bribe  you  to  be  an  impartial  judge. 

C.  J.  How!  bribe  me?  you  have  marr'd  all. 

Q.  M.  Aye,  with  such  gifts 
That  heaven  shall  share  with  you ; 
Not  with  fond  sickles  of  the  tested  gold, 
Or  stones  whose  rate  are  either  rich,  or  poor 
As  fancy  values  them  :  but  wnth  true  pr.^  y'ers, 
That  shall  be  up  at  heaven,  and  enter  there 
Ere  sunrise:  prayers  from  preserved  souls, 
From  fasting  maids,  whose  minds  are  dedicate 
To  nothing  temporal. 

C  J.  Stand  aside !    This  is  no  time 
To  jar;  you  in  your  frantic  mood, 
Use  speeches  which  might  better  have  been  spar'd, 

Q.  M.  Yet,  do  you  not  judge  this  same  time  to  be 
A  season  to  requite  the  injury 

That's  offer'd  ?     Heaven  shield  thee  from  such  woes 
As  I,  thus  wronged,  receive  from  this  meddler  here. 

C.  J.  Stop,  your  grace;  we  cannot  thus  permit 
A  blasting  and  a  scandalous  breath  to  fall 
On  him  so  near  us  :  never  yet  did  he 
Misreport  your  grace. 

Q.  M.  Thieves  for  their  robbery 
Have  authority,  when  judges  themselves  do  steal. 
Why,  all  the  souls  that  were,  were  forfeit  once, 
And  He  that  might  the  vantage  best  have  took 
Found  out  the  remedy:  how  would  you  be, 
If  He,  which  is  the  top  of  judgment,  should 


62  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


But  judge  you  as  you  are  ?     Oh,  think  on  that, 
And  mercy  then  will  breath  within  your  lips!/ 

C.  J.  Grant  that  her  words  bewitch  not  the  commis- 
sion. 
'Tis  a  needful  fitness  that  we 
Adjourn  this  court  till  further  day. 

Q.  M.  I  do  perceive  these  men  trifle  with  me. 
My  lords  of  the  Council,  I  will  not  hence 
Till  with  my  talk  and  tears,  both  full  of  truth, 
I  make  him  tell,  even  upon  his  conscience, 
With  all  dissembling  set  aside,  the  truth. 
My  lord,  you  must  tell  why  I  did  desire  you 
To  give  me  secret  harbor. 

C.  J.  Madam,  art  thou  not  asham'd 
To  wrong  him  with  thy  importunacy? 

Q.  M.  You  prove  my  former  speeches :  judges  give 
Judgment  according  to  their  own  advantage. 
Doing  to  poor  innocence  manifest  wrong. 

a  J.  What's  this?  what's  this? 
How  now !     What  means  this  passion  ? 
Tell  me  madam,  what  folly  reigns  in  you  ? 
'Tis  a  passing  shame  that  you  should  censure  thus, 
These  lovely  gentlemen !     To  utter  foul  speeches 
And  to  detract,  will  not  recover  your  freedom ; 
I  beseech  your  majesty  not  to  proclaim  us  false ; 
Do  no  stain  to  your  own  gracious  person. 
Therefore  be  advised,  defaming  m*en 
Of  good  life  will  not  hide  your  crime; 
(If  crime  it  be,)  th'  dearest  o'  th*  loss  is  yoiirs. 

Q.  M.  My  lord,  the  truth  you  speak  doth  lack 
Some  gentleness,  and  time  to  speak  it  in ; 
You  rub  the  sore  when  you  should  bring  the  plaster. 


The   Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  63 

Indeed,  you've  spoken  truer  than  you  purposed: 

Life  I  prize  not  a  straw,  but  I  would  free  mine  lionor. 

You  know,  my  lord,  for  sixteen  years,  most  villainously 

I  have  been  dragg'd  about,  denied  all  privilege 

Which  doth  belong  to  royalty,  and  lastly, 

Have  been  hurried  to  this  place,  and  all  alone, 

Unhappy,  am  enforc'd  to  speak  for  truth : 

And  I  appeal  to  all  the  English  lords 

And  barons  here,  to  be  unpartial, 

As  are  the  gods  of  destiny;  and  if 

They  speak,  speak  not  in  my  dispraise,  but  say 

"I'm  sure  she  is  not  false,  and  did  not  purpose 

To  seize  on  England's  Queen ;"  I  crave  but  this. 

For  I  am  as  free  from  touch  or  soil  'gainst  her. 

As  is  the  high  imperial  type  of  this  earth's  glory. 

With  report  of  it.     For  my  sake,  pity  me ; 

My  fainting  w^ords  do  not  warrant  death. 

C.  J.  Her  words 
Enforce  these  tears,  and  I  shall  pity  her 
If  she  speaks  again.     Away  with  her! 
Madam,  I  grieve  at  your  declining  fall; 
Farewell,  fair  Queen  ;  weep  not !     'Tis  the  Queen's  will 
That  you  are  subject  to  this  trial;  we  commit 
You  to  your  chamber,  until  further  trial 
May  be  made  thereof,  i'f  you  be  guilty. 
Come,  officer,  dismiss  the  court,  I'd  fain  be  gone. 
What!  are  you  waking?     Do  you  not  hear  me  speak? 
Break  up  the  court  I  say.     Set  on.  ^^  {Exeunt.) 

29.  "And  then  the  court  arose  and  from  thence  did  return 
to  London,  and  shortly  afterwards  the  peers  met  within  the 
tower  these  reverend  fathers,  men  of  singiilar  integrity  and 
learning,  yea,  the  elect  o'  th'  land,  assembled  to  plead  the 
cause  of  the  lovely  Queen  of  Scots.  This  in  effect  was  the 
Lord  Chancellor's  speech: — 


64  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Scena  Secunda. 


{A  room  in  the  Tower  of  London.) 
Lords  and  Gentlemen  Assembled. 


Lord  Chancellor.  Koble  peers, 
The  cause  why  we  are  met,  is  to  determine 
O'  th'  falsehood  and  subtle  guile  of  Scotland. 
Ye  are  the  fount  that  makes  the  brooks  to  flow, 
And  ye  are  honest  men,  therefore. 
Through  your  wise  speeches  and  grave  conference. 
Our  sovereign  will  speak  unto  the  world. 
She  hath  commanded  me  to  say  to  you. 
As  you  do  say  shall  be,  so  shall  it  be; 
And  in  your  wisdom  she  doth  trust. 
First,— 

This  w^oman  hath  accused  the  Queen's  mother 
Of  corrupt  virtue  ;  you  may  uprighteously 
Do  a  poor  wroug'd  lady  a  merited  benefit. 
And  redeem  her  name  if,  peradventure,  you 
Void  not,  my  lords,  this  accusation ; 
Then,— 

She  hath  sent  over  to  the  King  of  France 
To  discover  what  power  the  King  hath  levied  there, 
"Wherewith  to  march  against  the  throne  of  England. 
"What  Christian  soldier  is  there,  that  will  not  be 
With  a  religious  emulation  touch'd, 
When  he  the  fierce  and  manly  King  of  Spain, 
Doth  see  approaching?     The  heaven's  lightning  flames 
And  thunders  now,  o'er  the  Low  Countries'  fatal  fields; 
And  this  foul,  ambitious  woman  it  is. 
Whose  wily  brain  and  tongue,  with  smoothest  speech, 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  65 


Hath  tied  and  tangled  him  in  a  dangerous  war. 

Blood  will  have  blood,  and  foul  murder  shall  'scape  no 

scourge. 
To  make  away  with  th'  Princess  Elizabeth, 
(For  she  doth  aspire  to  the  succession) 
Is  her  desire;  her  inconsistency 
And  treachery  is  vain,  sith,  noble  lords, 
We've  found  the  proof  that  her  grace  did  entreat, 
With  flattering  style,  St.  Peter's  chair  to  talk 
Of  her  title  to  the  English  crown. 
And  did  entreat  the  Pope  to  aid  and  succour  her. 
For  those  great  wrongs,  those  bitter  injuries. 
Which  she  hath  oft'ered  to  England's  majesty. 
Let  Justice  put  his  armour  on,  and  slay  her, 
Before  her  chaps  be  stain'd  with  crimson  blood. 
Pray  do  not  stand  on  quillets  how  to  kill  her, 
Be  it  by  gynnes,  by  snares,  by  subtlety, 
Sleeping  or  waking,  'tis  no  matter  how. 
So  she  be  dead,  for  that  is  good  deceit. 
Which  mates  her  first  that  first  intends  deceit. 

Burleigh.  Thrice  noble  lord,  'tis  resolutely  spoke. 

L.  C.  ]^ot  resolute,  except  so  much  were  done. 
For  things  are  often  spoke,  and  seldom  meant, 
But  here  my  heart  accordeth  with  my  tongue. 
Then  sage,  grave  men. 

Let  your  counsels  sway  you  in  your  policy; 
Say  as  you  think,  and  speak  it  from  your  souls. 

3Iontague.  My  lords, 
This  be  a  solemn  thing,  and  should  not  be 
Contemptibly  spoken  of.     Ere  she  obtain 
The  crown,  to  which  we  humble  'beisance  yield, 
She  first  must  land  here  as  a  conqueror: 


6Q  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 

And  we,  in  justice,  cannot  well  deny, 

That  she  came  not  in  stealth  to  hide,  but  came 

In  love.     I  need  not  cite  to  you,  my  masters. 

How,  when  she  was  a  suppliant,  that  you, — 

I  speak  to  j'ou,  and  you,  sir, — you  commanded  her 

To  close  prison,  with  many  bitter  tlireats 

Of  biding  there.     Heaven,  it  know^s,  I  would 

ISTot  have  her  prove  false  traitor  to  our  Queen, 

But  I'll  contend,  our  sovereign's  sword  will  be 

Able  her  sceptre  to  maintain,  without 

Touching  this  poor  shadow  of  a  painted  Queen. 

My  noble  lords,  think  not  to  find  me  slack 

Or  pitiful,  if  she's  not  "fair  of  faith; 

But  since  your  faithful  ^eal  lets  me  speak,  I'm  sure 

You'll  pause  awhile,  till  you  are  full  resolv'd 

Of  the  nature  of  her  defects  of  grace. 

She  that  you  hurt,  is  of  great  fame, 

And  therefore,  my  gentle  lords,  history 

With  full  mouth,  shall  speak  freely  of  our  act; 

As  the  matter  now  stands,  if  she 

Committed  fornication  in  another  country, 

I  must  needs  say,  that  though  it's  not  commendable. 

Yet  it  be  not  odd :  even  if  this  is  her  fault. 

Who  sinneth  most,  the  tempter  or  the  tempted? 

Bethink  you ! 

Who  is  it  that  hath  died  for  this  offence? 

There's  many  have  committed  it. 

L.  C.  Aye,  aye,  well  said. 

Mont.  Those  who  have  taken  upon  them  to  make 
The  law"  of  nature  a  thing  of  evil,  have  not  been 
Effective  in  quenching  and  stopping  it, 
And  have  done  more  harm  than  good.     Pray  you,  look! 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  07 


We  so  wipe  the  justice  of  our  laws  away, 
That  woman  now,  is  an  abhorred  slave ; 
Where  is  the  antique  glory  which  was  wont 
In  woman  to  appear?     Where  be  the  brave 
Achievements  done?     Where  be  the  battles?     Where 
The  shield  and  spear?     Bin  they  all  dead  and  laid 
In  doleful  hearse,  or  do  they  only  sleep, 
And  shall  again  awake  to  force  men  to  put  forth 
His  best  advantage  ?     Fair  lords,  to  the  plea 
Of  traitor,  there  must  be  verification, 
And  what  I  speak,  I'll  maintain  with  my  sword, 
In  my  mind  we  have  but  trivial  argument. 
More  than  mistrust,  that  shows  her  worthy  death. 
L.  a  So  that,  by  this,  you  will  not  have  her  die. 
3Iont.  The  sharp  and  thorny  points  of  my  reason 
Do  drive  me  forward,  and  my  learned  lord. 
If  your  grace  mark  every  circumstance,  you  have 
Great  reason  to  do  her  right,  especially 
Since,  with  a  flag  of  truce,  she  came  to  us. 

L.  C.  Betwixt  ourselves. 
My  friends  and  loving  countrymen, 
I  fear  this  token  serveth  for  a  hollow  heart. 
See  here.  Lord  Montague,  you  speak  you  know  not  what, 
And  all  too  confident.     Tut,  tut !  is  she 
Too  virtuous,  mild,  or  too  well  given,  to  dream 
Of  allegiance  with  the  Pope?     Her  very  cheeks 
Would  to  cinders  burn  up  modesty!  I  pray 
You  set  to  this,  yes  and  the  practice  oft,— 
The  letters,  to  the  Kings  of  Spain  and  France. 
Hath  she  not  deserv'd  more  than  a  prison? 
Or  is  there  any  print  of  goodness  in  her? 

Mont.  The  court  must  show,  this  writing  of  the  Queen. 


68  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 

L.  C.  Enough,  sir  ! 
By  her  writ  our  Queen  hath  certified 
To  us,  (which  is  a  matter  of  record) 
This  letter,  which  indeed,  we  ought  to  credit : 
In  our  eyes,  it  may  well  stand  up  against 
This  pretended  reason  of  yours. 

MoJit.  My  lord, 
I  am  sorry  for  your  displeasure,  but  having 
Prerogative  of  speech  thus  cast  on  me, 
Come  what  may  come,  I  will  speak  stoutly  for  her. 
All  will  sure  be  well,  for  if  you  only  fasten 
Your  ear  to  my  advisings,  I  do  make 
Myself  believe,  that  th'  voice  and  true  decision 
Of  this  commission  will  be  rendered 
In  humanity,  and  no  execution 
Done  on  Mary  through  suspicion, 
Dissimulation,  superstition  or  pride. 

Bur.  My  lord,  right  sore  aggriev'd  am  I  at  this 
So  sharp  reproof,  and  with  most  painful  feeling 
Of  your  speech,  I  will  learn  to  begin. 
No  labor,  nor  no  duty,  have  I  left 
Undone.     How  blind  you  are !  against  all  sense, 
You  importune  for  her:  your  suit's  unprofitable. 
We  are  poisoned  by  her  climbing  followers 
Who  count  religion  but  a  childish  toy, 
And  hold  there  is  no  sin  but  ignorance. 
I  am  ashamed  to  hear  such  foolery : 
She  is  our  enemy,  and  shall  die. 

Ha!     Doth  she  not  tempt?     Lo,  saw  you  that  creature 
Who  for  loving  this  virtuous  Queen,  to  his  death  hath  gone, 
You  would  not  intrude  her  virtue  on  us. 
We  have  strict  statutes  and  most  biting  laws, — 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  69 


The  needful  bits  and  curbs  to  headstrong  steeds, — 

And  I  beseech  you,  let  her  be  condemn'd  to  die. 

Let  not  this  childishness  move  you ;  it  is 

But  a  soft  murmur,  and  confused  sound 

Of  senseless  words,  which  his  reason  doth  impeach, 

For  guiltiness  will  speak,  though  tongues  were  out  of  use. 

The  deeds  committed  'gainst  the  commonwealth 

By  this  red  plague,  may  not  be  razed  out 

Nor  longer  borne. 

She  is  a  murderer;  her  childhood  stain'd, 

With  blood  remov'd  but  little  from  her  own ; 

And  now  doth  she  stain  our  great  sovereignty, 

And  hath,  in  likeness  of  the  adder,  stung 

(By  the  very  pangs  of  malice)  our  wise  Queen, 

And  will,  like  an  eagle  in  a  dove-cote,  strike  our  people. 

If  thus  forewarned,  in  due  prevention 

You  default,  you  are  not  guiltless  of  crime. 

And  evermore,  all  of  you  deserve  blame. 

Immediate  sentence  then,  and  sequent  death, 

In  reverence  of  Elizabeth's  noble  name  I  beg. 

Again  I  pray  you,  purge  all  infection 

From  our  air;  let  not  her  cheeks  make  soft 

Your  trenchant  swords,  and  spare  not  her,  whose  dimpled 

smiles 
From  fools  exhaust  their  mercy;  let  not  this 
Hog  in  sloth,  wolf  in  greediness,  dog  in  madness. 
Lion  in  prey,  plague  you  with  incessant  wars. 
Do  not  in  obstinacy,  cavil  at  this  course ; 
Ten  to  one  we  shall  not  find  like  opportunity 
Again  ;  therefore,  take  ye  this  flattering  sin. 
Foul  as  she  is  and  full  of  sinful  blame, 
And  like  true  subjects,  sons  of  your  progenitors, 


70  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 

Absolve  her  with  the  axe. 

L.  C.  My  lords,  what  say  you  ? 

All.  Guilty!  guilty! 

Kent.  Quick,  quick,  my  lord  !  I  long 
To  write  my  name,  to  urge  her  punishment 
And  loudly  call  for  judgment. 

Bur.  Oh,  how  joyful  am  I  made  by  this: 

So  shall  our  Queen's  wrongs  be  recompens'd.  ^" 

(Exeunt.') 


Actus  Qidntus.     Scena  Prima. 

{Palace  of  the  Queen.) 
Queen  Elizabeth  and  her  train. 


Queen  Elizabeth.  Fie  !  what  a  slug 
Is  Warwick,  that  he  comes  not  to  tell  us 
Whether  they  will  that  she  shall  die  or  no ! 
Ah !  in  good  time  here  comes  the  sweating  lord  ! 

(Enter  Warioick.) 
Welcome  my  lord:    what  will  my  lords?    what  is  the 
judgment? 
Warwick.  Your  highness,  give  me  leave  to  breathe; 
I  have  outrun  my  breath. 

30.  "  Thus  after  many  hours  of  speeches  they  did  set  forth 
the  true  way  for  the  expiation  and  purging  of  the  diseased 
soul,  that  deserved  to  die.  The  city  of  London,  on  receiving 
the  report,  in  the  very  demonstration  and  fulness  of  their  cry, 
put  an  end  to  the  false  report  that  they  advised  the  counsel  to 
epare  her,  and  in  their  zeal,  when  they  heard  she  was  con- 
demned to  lose  her  head,  did  hail  the  sentence  with  such 
vehemency,  that  it  was  like  to  madness.  The  Queen  in  the 
palace  staid  the  coming  of  the  verdict: — 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  IScots.  71 


Q.  E.  Strive  mau  and  speak. 
War.  England  hath  put  a  flice  of  gladness  on, 
Triumphant  London  doth  sing  peans  loud, 
And  holy  tunes,  and  sacrifice  of  thanks 
In  honor  of  your  name. 

Q.   E.    Think  of  thy   message,  sir,   and   haste   thy 
tongue. 

War.  The  hideous  law,  as  mice  by  lions  did, 
Hath  picked  out  an  act,  under  whose  heavy  sense, 
Her  life  falls  into  forfeit: 
She's  condemn'd,  upon  the  act,  to  die. 

Q.  E.  It  is  impossible ! 

War.  Your  grace,  I  tell  you  true, 

Q.  E.  She  is  sentenced  then  to  die ! 
We  will  proclaim  it,  and  let  our  subjects  see 
And  know  the  justice  of  our  court. 

War.  Your  grace,  here  comes  the  rest, 
Whom,  in  my  haste  I  left  behind. 

{Enter  Lords  of  Council.) 

Q.  E.  My  Lord  Chancellor,  and  Lords, 
Thank  God,  in  pity  of  our  hard  distress, 
And  wary  in  thy  studious  care,  ye  have, 
In  politic  council,  fixed  the  Houses 
Of  Lancaster  and  York,  like  a  mountain 
!N^ot  to  be  removed ;  our  mother's  honor  ye've  redeem'd, 
And  have  again  install'd  me  in  the  diadem; 
Our  love  and  largest  bounty  we  extend  to  you. 
Who  are  sealed  in  approbation  for  thy  kind  pains. 

L.  C.  Your  grace. 
Here  is  the  warrant  for  her  death. 
Which  I  tender  to  your  grace,  to  receive 
Your  approbation,  and  may  it  please  you  here 


72  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


To  write  your  princely  name. 

Q.  E.  My  lord,  I  promise 
To  note  it  cunningly — but  hither  come 
Th'  ambassadors  of  our  brothers  of  France  and  Spain. 
I  know  their  embassy,  and  can  with  ready  guess 
Declare  it,  before  the  Frenchmen  speak  a  word  of  it. 
They  crav'd  audience,  and  the  hour  I  think  is  come 
To  give  them  hearing.     Is  it  four  o'clock? 

L.  a  It  is. 

Q,  E.  Well  then,  upon  this  instant  we  will  hear  them. 

{Enter  Ambassadors.) 
Welcome,  my  noble  lords  ;  you're  come  to  us 
In  happy  hour !     Heard  you  the  happy  tidings, 
How  mine  honest  Council  have  this  day,  prov'd   their 

virtues, 
And  after  trial,  have  condemn'd  injurious  Mary 
To  the  sharpest  kind  of  justice?     Heard  you  that? 

French  Ambassador.  Indeed,  'tis  true  it  hath  been  told 
me. 

Q.  E.  What  think  you  of  it? 

Fr.  Am.  Alas,  I  know  not  what  to  say. 

Q.  E.  Answer  in  the  effect  of  your  reputation 
And  satisfy  us,  sir. 

Fr.  Am.  Oh,  royal  Queen, 
In  my  King's  name  I  am  commanded. 
By  your  leave  and  favor,  humbly  to  kiss  your  hand; 
And  if  you'll  condescend  to  give  me  liberty 
To  speak,  I  will  answer  your  grace. 

Q.  E.   Speak  what  thou  wilt.     We  did  expect  thy 
coming. 

Fr.  Am.  Madam,  thus  speaks  my  King : — 
Treason  is  a  vice  that  most  I  do  abhor. 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


73 


And  most  desire  should  meet  the  blow  of  justice, 

For  which  I  would  not  plead,  but  that  I  must, 

For  wliich  I  must  not  plead,  but  that  I  am 

At  war  'twixt  will,  and  will  not. 

:N'ow  you  are  heir  to  England's  throne,  therefore  enjoy  it : 

But  I  do  fear,  the  rigour  of  the  statute 

Too  close  you  follow,  to  make  example  of  her. 

Your  right  depends  not  on  her  life  or  death ; 

Then  seeing  this,  with  -reverence  be  it  said, 

It  resteth  in  your  grace  quietly  to  enjoy  your  own. 

Free  from  oppression  and  the  stroke»of  war ; 

For,  if  you  please,  I'll  undertake  your  grace 

Shall  well  and  quietly  enjoy  your  realm. 

Upon  condition  I  may  ransom  her;  and  so 

Shall  you  be  happy,  free,  as  England's  royal  Queen. 

Q.  E.  That  is,  if  we  deliver  her  up  to  Henry? 
We  give  thee  kingly  thanks! 
To  be  a  queen  in  bondage,  is  more  vile 
Than  is  a  slave  in  base  humility. 
Dost  thou  not  know  the  army  of  this  Queen 
Means  to  besiege  us?     Dost  thou  not  know 
That  naught  but  gall,  venom  and  wicked  words. 
That  God  and  men  offend,  is  in  her  lying  tongue. 
Which  in  two  parts  divided  is,  and  both  the  parts  do  speak? 
And  as  her  tongue,  so  is  her  heart. 
That  never  thought  one  thing  but  doubly. 
Therefore,  the  bloody  knife  shall  play  the  umpeere, 
Arbitrating  'twixt  our  extremes  and  us ! 

{Enter  Messenger.) 

But  stay !  what  news  ?     Why  comest  thou  in  such  post  ? 

Mess.  It  is  rumor'd  the  King  of  Spain's  great  navy 
Doth  land  at  Milford  Haven. 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Q.  E.  How  say  yon,  my  lord  Ambassadors? 
"We  turn  to  thee,  my  Lord  of  Spain  ; 
Let  us  hear  your  grant  or  your  denial. 

Spanish  Ambassador.  Madam, 
It  is  not  true ;  if  it  were  true,  the  salve 
For  such  a  sore  would  be  but  to  be  wise, 
And  shut  such  neighbors  out  of  door. 

Q.  E.  Yf  e  see  thy  wit, 
But  answer  straight,  and  not  with  foolish  boldness, 

Sp.  Am.  In  regard,  then,  of  the  great    force   that 
rumour 
Doth  land  upon  your  kingdom, — rumour  is 
Full  of  surmises,  jealousies,  conjectures. 
And  when  commenced  on  this  ball  of  earth, 
Doth  grow  like  hydra's  head, — on  my  honor,  gentle  lady, 
King  Philip,  my  master,  hath  not  set  forth 
"War  for  Britain,  for  had  he  left  my  native  country 
T'  depose  your  grace,  if  I  should  stand  before  you, 
To  cry  you  mercy  for  the  meanest  of  your  land, 
I  should  be  forsworn.     I'  God's  name,  turn  me  away. 
And  let  the  foul'st  contempt  shut  door  upon  me, 
If  you  believe  our  trumpets  clamorous  speak. 
Harbingers  of  blood  and  death,  within  your  realm. 
Pardon  ray  answer,  madam,  if  it  appear  not  civil, 
But  if  you've  any  justice,  any  pity, 
If  you  be  anything  but  a  tyrant, 
Pluck  not  away  the  life  of  a  lady 
Of  the  blood  of  France. 

Q.  E.  It  is  the  law,  not  I,  condemns  her. 

Sp.  Am.  Yet  show  some  pity,  madam. 

Q.  E.  I  show  it  most  of  all  when  I  show  justice : 
For  then  I  pity  those  I  do  not  know, 


The  Tragedy  of  Munj  Queen  of  Scots. 


Which  a  dismiss'd  offence  would  after  gaule. 

Many  had  not  dared  to  do  evil, 

If  the  first  that  did  the  edict  infringe 

Had  answer'd  for  his  deed.     Now  the  angry  law's  awake, 

Takes  note  of  what  is  done,  and  like  the  prophet 

Looks  in  a  glass  that  shows  what  future  evils, 

Either  now,  or  by  remissness,  new  conceiv'd. 

And  so  in  progress  to  be  hatch'd,  and  born, 

Are  now  to  have  no  successive  degrees, 

But  here  they  live  to  end. 

Fr.  Am.  If  she  be  guilty,  as  'tis  published. 
Nor  prince  nor  peer  may  deny  your  grace's  right, 
However  sinister  the  doom, 
To  send  her  unto  judgment;  but  who  are  they 
That  accuse  her  of  fornication? 
"Wretches  who  are  no  more  but  instruments 
Of  some  more  mighty  member  that  sets  them  on. 
Let  me  have  way,  your  grace,  to  find  this  practice  out. 

Q.  E.  Aye,  with  my  heart, 
And  punish  them  to  your  height  of  pleasure. 

Fr.  Am.  Madam,  may  I  then  write  unto  my  king 
That  your  highness  will  pardon  her? 

q.  E.  My  lord. 
She  hath  confessed  to  the  vile  encounters 
They  have  a  thousand  times,  in  secret  had. 
They  are  not  to  be  named,  my  lord — not  to 
Be  spoken  of — there  is  not  chastity  enough 
In  language,  without  ofi'ence  to  utter  them. 

Fr.  Am.  I  know  not  how  to  pray  your  patience. 
Yet  I  must  speak  :  choose  your  revenge  yourself; 
Impose  on  me  what  penance  your  invention 
Can  lay  upon  my  sin,  but  by  my  soul, 


76  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


I'm  forced  to  speak  for  her. 

Q.  E.  Aye,  but  we  fear 
You  speak  upon  the  rack,  where  men,  enforc'd, 
Speak  anything. 

Fr.  Am.  I  should  be  guiltier 
Than  my  guiltiness,  to  think  I  can  be 
Undiscernable !     I  perceive  your  grace,  like  power  divine, 
Hath  look'd  upon  my  secret  counsel.     My  King 
Hath  show'd  himself  sensible  and  almost 
Prescient  of  this  event,  and  he  hath,  with  full  line 
Of  his  authority,  imposed  upon  me 
Absolute  power. 

Q.  E.  We  must  confess,  we  have  heard  so  much. 
And  thought  to  have  spoke  thereof,  but  being  overfull 
Of  self  affairs,  our  mind  did  lose  't.     But  come. 
You  speak  as  having  power !     Look  you  that  you 
Do  arm  yourself  to  fit  your  fancies  to  our  will, 
Or  else  the  law  of  England  yields  you  up, 
Which  by  no  means  we  may  extenuate, 
To  death.    Be  well  instructed,  and  prepar'd 
How  to  carry  yourself  in  this  your  embassage  : 
Keep  to  a  moderate  carriage  and  bearing, 
Or  we  will  undertake  to  make  you.     We  will  take 
You  hence  to  th'  rack  and  towze  you  joint  by  joint! 

Fr.  Am.  Madam,  you  are  unjust;  you  dare  no  more 
Stretch  this  finger  of  mine,  than  you  dare  rack  your  own ! 
I'm  not  your  subject  nor  provincial  here. 

Q.  E.  Do  you  tax  us  with  injustice?    Do  you  so,  sir? 

Fr.  Am.  Madam,  you  have  bereft  me  of  all  words  • 
Only  my  blood  speaks  to  you  in  my  veins, 
And  there  is  much  confusion  in  my  powers. 

Q.  E.  Hark,  sir !    Would  jou 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  77 

Close  now,  after  you  accuse  us 

Of  injustice?     Oh,  this  false  woman  misus'd  us 

Past  the  endurance  of  a  block  !  an  oak 

With  but  one  green  leaf  on  it  would  have  answer'd  her; 

And  now  you  wonder  much  that  we  should  put 

This  shame  and  trouble  from  us.     Set  her  free  ? 

If  now  'twere  fit  to  do't, — after  th'  imperious 

Language  of  your  King, — by  Holy  God,  we  would  not 

free  her ! 
No,  faith,  not  if  he  and  all  his  lords  came  here 
To  succour  her.     Goodness  is  never  fearful ! 
We  have  a  spirit  to  do  anything 
That  appears  not  foul,  and  in  the  truth  of  our  spirit, 
Virtue  is  bold.     She's  worthy  of  death — fire  cannot  melt 
That  opinion  out  of  us — and  you  waste  all 
In  making  question  of  her  innocence  ! 
'Tis  almost  five  o'clock,  and  so,  farewell. 
Yet  ere  you  go,  my  lords  of  France  and  Spain, 
We  have  some  private  schooling  for  you  both  ; 
You  cannot  climb  o'er  the  house  to  unlock  the  gate, 
Therefore,  to  study  now  to  free  her  is  too  late.  ^* 

(Exeunt.) 

31.  "  Thus  my  mother  broke  up  the  audience,  and  stayed 
not  for  an  answer.  And  yet,  nor  scroll  nor  parchment,  beai's 
«the  Queen's  warrant  for  the  death  of  Princess  Mary,  though 
she  was  beheaded." 

"  You  are  pleasant,  sir,  and  speak  apace.  Why,  what  a 
truthless  thing  is  this !     How  was  the  warrant  obtained?" 

"  By  treachery.  Lo,  sir,  here's  the  three  crafty  men  that 
bewrayed  the  fair  lady." 

"Who  are  thoy,  sir?" 

"  The  most  redoubted  peers  in  England :  William  Cecil, 
Lord  High  Treasurer,  my  father,  the  Earl  of  Leicester,  and 
M.  Secretary  of  the  Queen,  Stand  thou  aloof  and  hear  how 
the  matter  c-rows : — 


78  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Scena    Secunda. 


(Street  in  London ) 

Enter  my  Lord  of  Burlkigh  and  Secretary  of  the  Queen  on  one  side  and  my 

Lord  of  Leicester  on  the  otJier. 


Lord  Burleigh.  Fairly  met,  my  old  and  faithful  friend, 
I  am  glad  to  see  you,  my  good  earl. 

Lord  Leicester.  Many 
And  hearty  thankings  to  you  both. 

Bur.  My  lord,  I  crave  you 
Lend  me  your  knees,  and  all  my  life  to  come, 
I'll  lend  you  all  my  life  to  do  you  service. 

L.  L.  Faith,  my  lord,  go  to  your  knees  and  make 
ready. 

Bur.  I  spoke  it  but  according  to  the  trick  ; 
Would't  please  you  that  the  Princess  Mary  perish  ? 

L.  L.  Oh,  my  good  lord. 
They  say  best  men  are  moulded 
Out  o'  faults,  and  for  the  most,  become  much  more 
The  better  for  being  a  little  bad ; 
I  think  she's  so  out  of  love  with  life 
That  she  will  sue  but  to  be  rid  of  it. 
But,  my  lord,  I  have  no  superfluous  leisure ; 
My  stay  must  be  stolen  out  of  other  afi'airs. 
Farewell. 

Bur.  Hold !     Might  you  dispense  with  your  leisure, 
I'd  have  some  speech  with  you. 

L.  L.  I  will  attend  you. 

Bur.  Very  good,  let  us  in  this  house  here. 

{Enter  a  Constable.) 
Ha !  constable, 

"What  house  is  this  ? 


The   Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  79 

Constable.  It  be  a  bawd's  house,  sir. 
It  is  a  naughty  house.     She  be  a  woman 
Cardinally  given  that  lives  here,  sir. 

Bur.  Hold  here !     Inquire  of  her  if  gentlemen 

Can  lodging  have  to  speak  privately. 

{Exit  Constable.) 

My  good  lord,  will  you  sit  it  out  here,  or  go  home? 

If  this  occasion  was  not  virtuous 

I  should  not  urge  it  half  so  faithfully. 

L.  L.  I've  sworn  to  stay  with  you,  my  lord. 

Bur.  Behold  where  Madam  Mitigation  comes. 

(Enter  Bawd.) 

Bawd.  And  't  please  you,  my  lords,  enter. 


Scena  Tertia. 


{Room  in  Bawd's  House.) 
Lords  Burleigh,  Leicester  and  Secretary  Davison. 

Burleigh.  My  lord. 
For  her  death  I  had  a  written  warrant  once,^ 
But  by  great  misfortune,  late  it  lost;  and  this 
To  remedy,  I  have  bid  Davison, 
Who  has  a  valiant  mind,— which  makes  fne  love. 
Admire  and  honor  him,— to  write  another. 

How  say  you? 

Lord  Leicester.  I  say,  wisdom  wishes  to  appear 
Most  bright,  when  it  doth  tax  itself, 
As  black  masks  proclaim  an  enshield  beauty 
Ten  times  louder  than  beauty  could  display'd; 


80  The  Tragedij  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


But  I  will  speak  more  gross,  and  I  know  this 

To  be  true;  our  dear  lady,  within  this  hour,  said : — 

"Oh  woe  is  me,  all  too  long  this  peril 

To  the  state  doth  'scape  the  scourge  that  waits  on  death. 

I  wonder  it  should  be  thus!     I  burn  to  hear 

That  she  is  dead !  then  will  I  be  content." 

Secretary.  Why  do  you  put  these  sayings  upon  me  ? 

L.  L.  Because  you  are  secretary — there's  the  plain 
truth — 
And  can,  if  it  shall  pleasure  you,  cure  the  disease 
And  remove  the  chief  cause  that  concerns  her  grace. 

Sec.  Believe  me,  I'm  not  glad  that  this  is  so ; 
I  dare  not,  my  lord,  serve  you  in  this. 

Bur.  What!  canst  thou  object? 

Sec.  I  do  beseech  your  grace  to  pardon  me  : 
I  am  earnest  in  your  service,  but,  my  good  lord, 
Honor  and  policy  like  unsevered  friends 
r  th'  wars,  do  grow  together. 

L.  L.  Grant  that,  yet 
For  your  best  ends,  will  you  adopt  this  policy ; 
Because  it  now  lies  on  you  to  displant  this  woman 
Who  doth  rear  high  her  head,  like  a  luxuriant  plant 
That  comes  of  the  lust  of  the  earth  without 
Any  formal  seed,  against  her  majesty. 

Sec.  My  lord,  you  push  me  hard ;  I  say  I  dare  not. 
Have  you  no  prison  mixed,  no  sharp  ground-kmfe, 
No  sudden  mean  of  death  ? 

L.  L.  How  sir !     Think'st  thou 
I  am  an  executioner?     There  is  a  kind 
Of  character  in  thy  life,  that  to  th'  observer 
Thy  history  fully  unfolds ;  thyself 
And  thy  belongings  are  not  thine  own  ;  thy  virtues 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  81 


Are  rubbish.     Now  I'll  speak  to  be  understood. 
Sec.  Speak  on. 

Bur.  Forbear  sharp  speeches,  my  lord. 
L.  L.  This  matchless  virtue  angers  me;  let  him 
Give  ear  to  our  request,  and  show  devotion 
And  a  right  Christian  zeal,  to  his  sovereign 
And  th'  business  of  the  state,  and  in  addition, 
So  earn  our  love,  and  not  our  deadly  spite. 

Sec.  My  lord. 
What  is  your  gracious  pleasure  ?     Dare  you  speak  it  ? 

Bur.  That  you  sign  this  warrant,  which  is 
The  order  for  her  overthrow. 

Sec.  Why  then, 
Your  grace  would  make  me  write  the  Queen's  name  ! 
I  shall  suffer  death  '.—for  certain  I  will ! 

L.  L.  Stay,  fear  not ! 
We,  of  evil  deeds,  must  choose  the  least, 
And  to  save  her  grace,  for  I  tender  the  safety 
Of  my  Queen,  it  is  our  duty  to  rid  her  of  her  foes ; 
It  is  no  murder  in  a  Queen,  to  end 
Another's  life  to  save  her  own. 

Sec.  Aye,  lords, 
Thou  art  i'  th'  right,  and  I  will  do't  although 

I  lose  my  life. 

Bur.  I  thank  you !     But  why  lose  we  time? 
Here  is  the  warrant,  and  I  pray  you,  sign 
Her  royal  name  unto  it.     Hoa,  there !  fetch  me 
Pen  and  ink.  (^Enter  maid  with  pen,  ink  and  paper.) 

So,  set  it  down  and  leave  us. 

(^Exit  maid.) 

Write  here.     But  I  do  bend  my  speech  to  one 

That  can  teach  me.  {Secretary  signs  the  Queens  name.) 


82  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 

Sec.  There,  please  your  honors,  I  think 
If  you  are  not  critical,  that  will  do. 

Bur.  I  am  sure  it  will.    Here  is  my  hand.    The  deed 
Is  worthy  doing. 

L.  L.  And  so  say  I. 

Sec.  And  I. 

Bur:  And  now  we  three  have  spoke  it, 

It  skills  not  greatly  who  impugns  our  doom. 

But  now,  sir,  away,  away  ! 

{Exit  Secretary.) 

Come  my  lord, 

Wend  we  to  th'  court;  I'll  tell  thee  more  of  this 

Another  time  as  I  need  not  fish  more 

"With  this  bait,  for  this  fool  gudgin ; 

You  were  bold  in  your  foolery. 

L.  L.  Oh  !  he  is  but  an  asse  unpolicied.  ^^ 

{Exeunt.) 


32.  "  Now,  my  lord,  repair  with  me  to  the  castle  where 
dwelleth  the  fair  lady;  for  my  lords  with  their  trains  are  now 
in  progress,  and  if  we  delay,  we  shall  not  see  her  die." 

"  I  obey  you,  sir.     When  must  she  die?" 

"As  I  do  think,  tomorrow." 

"  Then  all  the  help  of  Scotland  should  be  bent  to  rescue 
her." 

"  True,  but  they  know  not  of  the  intent.  But,  my  lord, 
here  is  her  prison ;  let  us  unto  her  chamber :" — 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


83 


Scena  Quarta. 

{Chamber  in  Fotheringay  Castle.) 
Queen  Mary  and  Maids.    Enter  a  Gentleman. 

Queen  Mary.  How  now? 

Gentleman.    And't  please  your  grace,  the   English 

Lords 
"Wait  in  the  presence. 

Q.  M.  Would  they  speak  with  me  ? 
G-ent.  They  willed  me  to  say  so,  madam. 
q.  M.  Pray  their  graces 
To  come  near.     What  can  be  their  business 
With  me  a  poor  weak  woman,  fallen  from  favor? 
I  do  not  like  their  coming,  now  I  think  on't. 

{Enter  English  Lords.) 

Welcome,  my  lords;  why  do  you  come?  is't  for  my  lite  ? 
Lord  Shrewsbury.   'Tis   now  dead  midnight  and  by 
eight  tomorrow, 
Thou  must  be  made  immortal. 

Q.  M.  How,  my  lord ! 
Tomorrow?  tomorrow?  Oh,  that's  sudden! 
Oh,  this  subdues  me  quite !     Oh,  fie  upon  thee, 
Slanderer,  I  know  it  is  not  true ! 

Lord  Kent.  It  is  true, 
Or  else  I  am  a  Turk;  therefore,  prepare 
Yourself  for  death  ;  do  not  your  resolution 
Satisfy  with  hopes  that  are  fallible ; 
Tomorrow  you  must  die. 

Q.  M.  Why  then,  thou  art 
An  executioner !  and  so  I  am  to  die. 


84  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


"Well,  if  I  must  die,  I  will  encounter  darkness 

As  doth  a  bride,  and  hug  it  in  my  arms. 

Good  friend,  I  remember  thee  by  th'  sound  o'  thy  voice ; 

I  met  thee  at  the  trial ;  I  would  fain 

Have  come  to  me  some  holy  friar. 

Kent.  Dame, 
Not  e'en  for  all  this  land  would  I  be  guilty 
Of  so  great  a  sin.     God  forbid  we  should 
Infringe  upon  the  holy  privilege 
Of  blessed  God. 

Q.  M.  Sir,  even  for  our  kitchens. 
We  kill  the  fowl  of  season  ;  shall  we  serve  heaven, 
With  less  respect  than  we  do  minister 
To  our  gross  selves?    Good,  good  my  lord,  if  I 
Must  die  tomorrow,  let  me  have  some  reverend 
Person  t'  advise,  comfort  and  pray  with  me. 

Kent.  Ere  we  can  take  due  orders  for  a  priest. 
You  will  be  dead.     I  would  desire  you,  madam, 
To  clap  into  your  prayers,  straightway,  for,  look  you, 
The  warrant's  come. 

Q.  M.  I  will  have  more  time  to  prepare  me — 
I  am  not  fitted  for  death.     O  sir,  spare  me, 
I  beseech  you  !  spare  me  !  spare  me,  ye  English  peers. 
Until  my  ghostly  shriver  give  me  shrift ! 

Kent.  Be  silent ! 
I'll  teach  you  how  you  shall  arraign  your  conscience. 
And  try  your  penitence,  if  it  be  sound, 
Or  hollowly  put  on. 

Q.  M.  I'll  gladly  learn. 

Kent.  Look  you,  get  you  a  prayer-book  in  your  hand. 
And  stand  between  two  churchmen  of  our  profession. 
And  then  for  mercy  kneel  at  the  feet  of  God. 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots.  85 

Q.  M.  Have  done,  my  lord. 
The  Church  of  Rome  forefend 
That  I  should  be  author  to  dishonor  it ! 
But  where  is  thy  warrant  to  approach  my  presence? 

Kent.  Look  thou,  here  is  the  hand  and  seal  o'  th' 
Queen ; 
I  doubt  not  thou  knowest  the  character, 
And  th'  signet  is  not  strange ;  until  that  thou 
Canst  rail  the  seal  from  off  this  warrant. 
Thou  but  ofFend'st  thy  lungs  to  speak  so  loud. 

q.  M.  Slander 
To  thy  dismal  seal !    We  give  to  thee  our  guiltless  blood. 
Thou  unreverend  and  unhallowed  hound! 
Of  many  heinous  crimes  thou  stand'st  condemn'd ; 
May  heaven  lay  on  thee  my  curse ! 

Kent.  Unhallowed  or  holy, 
The  Queen,  and  Parliament,  hath  physic  for  your  rank- 

ness! 
I  stand  for  law. 

Q.  M.  And  for  standing  by,  let  the  devil 
Be  honor'd  for  his  burning  throne  !  away  ! 
Call  my  gentlewomen !  hardly  shall  we  have  time, 
To  wrap  our  bodies  in  black  mourning  gowns 
And  number  our  Ave-Maries  with  our  beads, 
And  our  devotions  tell,  before  the  hour 
Shall  be  here  when  my  head  must  fall ;  therefore. 
Get  you  gone,  my  lords,  and  leave  me  'mong  my  maids.  ^ 

{^Exeunt.) 


33.  "  Come,  my  lord,  let's  quit  this  chamber  and  see  the 
ingenious  way  these  torturers  did  use  to  express  the  same. 
Here  is  the  room,  which  for  forty  days  hath  been  hung  in 


86  The  TrngcjJy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Scena  Quinta. 

{Ilall  of  Fotheringay  Castle,  hung  with  black.    Platform  and  block  at  one  end.) 

English  peers,  Executioner  and  Assistant. 

Enter  Queen  Mary,  dressed  in  a  black  and  red  velvet  gown. 

Executioner.    Pray,  mistress,   pardon  me!     I   never 
have  cut  off 
A  woman's  head ;  but  thou  wilt  feel  no  pain. 

queen  3Ianj.  Oh,  God  forgive  my  sins,  and  pardon 
thee ! 
I  offer  thee,  hoodwinked  as  thou  art, 
My  hand  to  kiss,  because  thou  art  not  void  of  pity : 

black,  with  nothing  in  it  but  the  platfoi^m  and  the  block. 
Not  content  with  this,  they  very  oft  have  waked  her,  as  if  to 
carry  her  to  execution,  and  showed  her  a  seeming  warrant." 

"  I  will  lay  myself  in  hazard  that  she,  whom  here  they 
have  a  warrant  to  execute,  is  no  greater  forfeit  to  the  law  than 
she  who  hath  sentenced  her.  Methinks  her  execution  is  noth- 
ing less  than  bloody  tyranny." 

'*  Silence,  speaking  the  truth  is  dangerous  in  this  fair  age." 

"  By  heaven,  I  cannot  flatter,  I  defy  the  tongue  of  sooth- 
ers, but  a  braver  place  in  my  heart's  love  hath  no  man  than 
yourself.     Nay  task  me  to  my  word.     Approve  me,  lord." 

"  Thou  hast  redeemed  my  lofty  opinion  of  thee,  and 
showed  thou  makest  some  tender  of  my  life  in  this  speech. 
But  the  Queen  is  here  at  hand,  and  you  must  not  speak;  stand 
you  awhile  aloof  Yet  see,  sweet  lord,  how  royally,  and  yet 
with  what  simpleness  she  is  arrayed.  See  her  red-black,  three- 
piled,  velvet  gown,  wraught  with  great  care,  that  like  covered 
fire,  doth  make  the  rare  beauty  of  her  face  appear,  which  is 
as  a  book,  where  men  may  read  strange  matters  practiced.  O 
never  more  shall  sun  see  that  fair  face !  For  through  high 
heaven's  grace,  which  favours  not  the  wicked  gifts  'gainst 
loyal  princes,  she  with  shadows  of  vain  hope  inspired,  is  here 
brought  to  her  sad  doom.  Lo,  where  comes  her  train,  and  the 
common  executioner:" — 


The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


87 


And  I  desire  thee  make  thou  quick  dispatch ; 
And  do  not  wrong  me  as  a  slaughterer  doth, 
Who  giveth  many  wounds  when  one  will  kill. 

Ex.  Upon  my  faith  and  troth,  believe  me, 
I'll  be  as  sure  and  speedy  in  your  end, 
As  all  the  poisonous  potions  in  the  world. 

Q.  M.  My  lords,  I  pray  ye  attend  !  Ye  charge  me  that 

I  have 
Blown  a  coal  of  war,  between  France,  Spain  and  England  : 

And  that  I  laid  a  trap  as  well. 

To  take  your  Queen's  life ;  I  do  deny  it : 

I  never  dream'd  upon  this  damned  deed : 

Remember  how  under  oppression  I  do  reek,- 

Shut  up ;  forbid  to  speak  the  ceremomal  rites 

Of  Rome ;  no  priest,  no  prelate,  no  holy  father 

To  tell  of  peace  to  my  sick  soul,  attends  me ; 

No  prayers  nor  masses  to  resolve  my  sins, 

And  to  give  ease  unto  my  smart  and  wounds,- 

It  is  not  to  be  endur'd  1  and  if  you  tell 

The  heavy  story  right,  upon  my  soul, 

The  hearers  will  shed  tears ;  yea,  even  my  foes 

Will  shed  fast  falling  tears,  and  say  it  was 

A  piteous  deed  to  take  me  from  the  woi-ld, 

And  send    my   soul   to  heaven!      My  blood  upon  ,our 

heads ! 
And  in  your  need,  such  comfort  come  to  you, 
As  now  I  reap  at  your  too  cruel  hands 
I  pray  you  will  present  to  th>  Queen  of  England, 
A  handkerchief  steep'd  in  my  blood;  and  say  to  her. 
That  it  did  drain  the  purple  sap  from  my  sweet  body, 
And  bid  her  wipe  her  weeping  eyes  withal. 

Kent.  Have  done,  have  done ;  this  cannot  save  you. 


88  The  Tragedy  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots. 


Q.  M.  I  blush  to  see  a  nobleman  want  manners. 

Kent.  I  had  rather  want  those  than  want  my  head. 

Q.  M.  Good  my  lord,  I  pray  you,  speak  not; 
What  mischief  and  what  murder,  too,  alas 
Hath  been  enacted  through  your  enmity. 

[She  kneels  and  prays.) 
Oh  God,  have  mercy  upon  me,  and  receive  my  fainting 
soul  again.  Oh,  be  thou  merciful !  And  let  our  princely 
sister  be  satisfied  with  our  true  blood,  which,  as  thou 
knowest,  unjustly  must  be  spilled!  O  God,  send  to  me 
the  water  from  the  well  of  life,  and,  by  my  death,  stop 
efiusion  of  Christian  blood,  and  'stablish  quietness  on 
every  side!     Let  me  be  blessed  for  the  peace  I  make. 

Amen. 

(Rises.) 
Lords,  I  have  done,  and  so  I  take  my  leave  : 

And  thus  I  seal  my  truth,  and  bid  adieu, 

Sweet  Shrewsbury  and  my  loving  Montague,  to  you. 

And  all,  at  once,  once  more  farewell,  farewell. 

Sweet  lords,  let's  meet  in  heaven. 

Good  my  lord  of  Derby,  lead  me  to  the  block. 

( To  the  Executioner.) 
Sirrah,  take  good  heart ;  cheer  thy  spirits. 
And  strike  my  head  off  with  a  downright  blow  : 
Come,  mortal  wretch,  be  angry  and  dispatch. 

(Exeunt  Omnes.) 


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